NK2 Homeobox Protein 2 (NKX2-2)

The morphogenesis of the central nervous system is thought to be established by an integrated network of regulatory factors. Vertebrate homologs of Drosophila segmentation and homeotic (Hox) genes are among the numerous regulatory genes expressed at high levels in the central nervous system. Homeobox-containing genes are a large family of transcription factors that are distinguished by a 60-amino acid evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding homeodomain. NKX2B contains a homeobox domain and may be involved in the morphogenesis of the central nervous system. This gene is found on chromosome 20 near NKX2-4, and these two genes appear to be duplicated on chromosome 14 in the form of TITF1 and NKX2-8. The encoded protein is likely to be a nuclear transcription factor.