Mesenchyme Homeobox Protein 1 (MEOX1)

MEOX1 encodes a member of a subfamily of non-clustered, diverged, antennapedia-like homeobox-containing genes. The encoded protein may play a role in the molecular signaling network regulating somite development. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described.

MOX1 expression was observed in a variety of normal tissues examined, including breast and ovary. Because of this and because the gene contains a homeobox domain and has the potential to regulate growth and differentiation, MOX1 represented an attractive candidate for the BRCA1 gene. However, no evidence for mutation in the coding sequence was found in investigations of a series of BRCA1 kindreds and primary sporadic breast tumors.