Homeobox protein Nkx-6.2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NKX6-2 gene.[5][6]
NKX6-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aliases | NKX6-2, GTX, NKX6.2, NKX6B, NK6 homeobox 2, SPAX8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External IDs | OMIM: 605955 MGI: 1352738 HomoloGene: 18580 GeneCards: NKX6-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nk6 homeobox 2 gene (Nkx6.2) is found on chromosome 10 in humans and on chromosome 7 in murine species.[7][8] Expression of the Nkx6.2 gene results in the Nkx6.2 transcription factor.[9] Its expression can be seen in the fetal brain, ventral portion of the neural tube, and the developing spinal cord during embryogenesis as well as in the adult brain.[9][10] Expression was also found to be in germ cells of testes.[11]
Nkx6.2 is involved in the patterning of the central nervous system during early embryo development.[12] As this gene continues to be researched, newfound information suggests that it aids in human oligodendrocyte maturation.[10][13] It has also been found to be important in motor function stemming from spinal neuronal circuits.[7]
Disorders with this gene can result in Spastic Ataxia which is a disease characterized by possible neurological issues, impaired learning ability, and a hypomyelinated central nervous system.[8][14] Another study has shown that methylation of Nkx6.2 can be correlated with renal cancer metastasis.[15] An Nkx6.2 knock-out mouse model showed abnormal motor ability thus corroborating that Nkx6.2 plays a role in central nervous system development.[7]
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.