Forkhead Box Protein L2 (FOXL2)

FOXL2 is a forkhead transcription factor. The protein contains a fork-head DNA-binding domain and may play a role in ovarian development and function.FOXL2 is involved in sex determination. Female missing the FOXL2 gene appear male. FOXL2 knockout in mature mouse ovaries cause them to develop into testes, however oocytes are still formed.

FOXL2, in the blepharophimosis/ptosis/epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES; 110100) critical region on chromosome 3q23. Consistent with an involvement in BPES, FOXL2 was selectively expressed in the mesenchyme of developing mouse eyelids and in adult ovarian follicles; in adult humans, it appeared predominantly in the ovary.