LIM Homeobox Protein 1 (LHX1)

LHX1 encodes a member of a large protein family which contains the LIM domain, a unique cysteine-rich zinc-binding domain. The protein may function as a transcriptional regulator and be involved in control of differentiation and development of neural and lymphoid cells. A similar protein in mice is an essential regulator of the vertebrate head organizer.LIM1 gene expression was detected in human brain, thymus, and tonsillar tissue. LIM1 expression in 58% of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines studied and in 4 of 5 primary samples from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in myeloid blast transformation. The expression pattern and structural characteristics of the LIM1 gene suggested that it encodes a transcriptional regulatory protein involved in control of differentiation and development of neural and lymphoid cells.