Homeobox Protein A4 (HOXA4)

The homeotic genes, whose products serve as determinants of embryonic cell fate, are expressed in a series of different but partially overlapping domains that extend along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis of the embryo. 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.

HOXA4 is part of the A cluster on chromosome 7 and encodes a DNA-binding transcription factor which may regulate gene expression, morphogenesis, and differentiation.