Forkhead Box Protein B2 (FOXB2)

FoxB2 is activated at the late blastula stage and first expressed within the dorsolateral ectoderm except for the organiser territory. xFoxB2 is found in two ectodermal stripes adjacent to the dorsal midline. Expression is completely down-regulated during neurulation. However, two distinct sets of cells expressing xFoxB2 re-appear in the rhombencephalon of swimming tadpoles. The early expression pattern of xFoxB2 is very similar to the pattern described for xFoxB1 (fkh-5). However, transcription of FoxB2 is weakerand is completely down-regulated at the end of neurulation.In adult mice, Foxb2 is additionally found in the spleen, ovary and testis. The Foxb2 mouse protein exhibits seven amino acid substitutions within the fork head domain as compared to xFoxB2 and contains an additional Pro–His–Ala–Gln-rich stretch shortly behind the fork head domain.