Orthopedia Homeobox Protein (OTP)

Homeodomain genes are helix-turn-helix transcription factors that play key roles in the specification of cell fates. In the central nervous system, homeodomain genes not only position cells along an axis, but also specify cell migration patterns and may influence axonal connectivity.The human OTP cDNA encodes a protein of 325 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence is 99% homologous to mouse Otp and demonstrated a high degree of conservation when compared to sea urchin and Drosophila Otp proteins. A single putative OTP gene product was found in 17-week human fetal brain tissue by Western blot analysis using a novel polyclonal antibody raised against a conserved 13-amino acid sequence in the C terminus of the OTP protein. Expression in the developing human hypothalamus was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.