PHYLOGENETIC CONSERVATION AND PHYSICAL MAPPING OF MEMBERS OF THE H6 HOMEOBOX GENE FAMILY

Homeobox genes represent a class of transcription factors that play ke y roles in the regulation of embryogenesis and development. Here we re port the identification of a homeobox-containing gene family that is h ighly conserved at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels in a dive rse number of species. These species encompass both vertebrate and inv ertebrate phylogenies, ranging from Home sapiens to Drosophila melanog aster. In humans, at least two homeobox sequences from this family wer e identified representing a previously reported member of this family as well as a novel homeobox sequence that we physically mapped to the 10q25.2-q26.3 region of human Chromosome (Chr) 10. Multiple members of this family were also detected in three additional vertebrate species including Equus caballus (horse), Gallus gallus (Chicken), and Mus mu sculus (mouse), whereas only single members were detected in Tripneust es gratilla (sea urchin), Petromyzon marinus (lamprey), Salmo salar (s almon), Ovis aries (sheep), and D. melanogaster (fruit fly).