F
IPR017995

Homeobox protein, antennapedia type

InterPro entry
Short nameHomeobox_antennapedia
Overlapping
homologous
superfamilies
 

Description

The homeobox is a 60-residue motif first identified in a number of Drosophila homeotic and segmentation proteins, but now known to be well-conserved in many other animals, including vertebrates
[1, 2]
. Proteins containing homeobox domains are likely to play an important role in development - most are known to be sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors. The domain binds DNA through a helix-turn-helix (HTH) structure.

Many homeodomain-containing proteins have now been sequenced and, while the homeodomain flanking regions vary, characteristic conserved sequences upstream of the domain allow the proteins to be grouped into 3 subfamilies: the so-called antennapedia, engrailed and 'paired box' proteins. Antennapedia, which regulates the formation of leg structures in Drosophila, was one of the first homeotic genes studied and led to the discovery of the homeobox domain. Over expression of this gene in the wrong segment of the fruit fly can lead to the formation of leg structures in these segments. For example, over expression in the head segment can lead to the formation of legs instead of antennae (hence the name antennapedia). The sequences of the antennapedia proteins contain a conserved hexapeptide 5-16 residues upstream of the homeobox, the specific function of which is unclear. The six Drosophila proteins that belong to this group are antennapedia (Antp), abdominal-A (abd-A), deformed (Dfd), proboscipedia (pb), sex combs reduced (scr) and ultrabithorax (ubx) and are collectively known as the 'antennapedia' subfamily.

In vertebrates the corresponding Hox genes are known
[3]
as Hox-A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, Hox-B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, Hox-C4, C5, C6, C8, Hox-D1, D3, D4 and D8.

Caenorhabditis elegans lin-39 and mab-5 are also members of the 'antennapedia' subfamily.

Arg and Lys are most frequently found in the last position of the hexapeptide; other amino acids are found in only a few cases.

References

1.The homeobox in perspective. Gehring WJ. Trends Biochem. Sci. 17, 277-80, (1992). View articlePMID: 1357790

2.The structure and function of the homeodomain. Scott MP, Tamkun JW, Hartzell GW 3rd. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 989, 25-48, (1989). View articlePMID: 2568852

3.Vertebrate homeobox gene nomenclature. Scott MP. Cell 71, 551-3, (1992). View articlePMID: 1358459

GO terms

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