Homeobox Protein A6 (HOXA6)

The Hox genes share a 180-bp homeobox, which encodes a 60-amino acid homeodomain that binds specifically to DNA. There are 4 Hox gene clusters: HOXA (formerly HOX1) on chromosome 7, HOXB (formerly HOX2) on chromosome 17, HOXC (formerly HOX3) on chromosome 12, and HOXD (formerly HOX4) on chromosome 2.

In vertebrates, the genes encoding the class of transcription factors called homeobox genes are found in clusters named A, B, C, and D on four separate chromosomes. Expression of these proteins is spatially and temporally regulated during embryonic development. HOXA6 is part of the A cluster on chromosome 7 and encodes a DNA-binding transcription factor which may regulate gene expression, morphogenesis, and differentiation.