Homeobox Protein B3 (HOXB3)

HOXB3 is a member of the Antp homeobox family and encodes a nuclear protein with a homeobox DNA-binding domain. It is included in a cluster of homeobox B genes located on chromosome 17. The encoded protein functions as a sequence-specific transcription factor that is involved in development. Increased expression of this gene is associated with a distinct biologic subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Levine et al. (1984) demonstrated physical linkage of 2 homeoboxes on chromosome 17. The loci are about 5 kb apart. By dual-laser chromosome sorting and spot-blot analyses, Joyner et al. (1985) assigned 2 human homeobox loci to the long arm of chromosome 17.