ISOLATION OF THE HUMAN MOX2 HOMEOBOX GENE AND LOCALIZATION TO CHROMOSOME 7P22.1-P21.3

We have isolated and characterized cDNA clones encoding a novel human homeobox gene, MOX2, the homologue of the murine mox-2 gene. The MOX2 protein contains all of the characteristic features of Mox-2 proteins of other vertebrate species, namely the homeobox, the polyhistidine st retch, and a number of potential serine/threonine phosphorylation site s. The homeodomain of MOX2 protein is identical to all other vertebrat e species reported so far (rodents and amphibians). Outside the homeod omain, Mox-2 proteins share a high degree of identity, except for a fe w amino acid differences encountered between the human and the rodent polypeptides. A polyhistidine stretch of 12 amino acids in the N termi nal region of the protein is also conserved among humans, rodents, and (only partly) amphibians. The chromosomal position of 7p22.1-p21.3. ( C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.