Dlx (gene)
Encyclopedia
Dlx is a family of homeodomain transcription factor
s which are related to the Drosophila
distal-less (Dll) gene .
The family has been related to a number of developmental features.
The family seems to be well preserved across species.
Known members of the family include Dlx1 to Dlx7. They form bigene clusters with each other. There are Dlx1-Dlx2, Dlx5-Dlx6 and Dlx3-Dlx7 clusters in vertebrates. Each of those are linked to a specific Hox-gene cluster. In higher fishes, like zebrafish, there are a couple of additional dlx-genes, dlx5 and dlx8. In zebrafish the orthologous genes to vertebrate Dlx5-Dlx6 are dlx4 and dlx6, which form a bigene cluster in zebrafish. These additional genes are not linked with each other, or any other dlx-gene.
Dlx4, Dlx7, Dlx8 and Dlx9 are the same gene in vertebrates. They're named differently, because every time the same gene was found, the researchers thought they had found a new gene.
Dlx genes are required for the tangential migration of interneuron
s from the subpallium to the pallium during vertebrate brain development . It has been suggested that Dlx promotes the migration of interneuron
s by repressing a set of proteins that are normally expressed in terminally differentiated neurons and act to promote the outgrowth of dendrite
s and axon
s . Mice lacking Dlx1 exhibit electrophysiological and histological evidence consistent with delayed-onset epilepsy
.
Dlx2 has been associated with a number of areas including development of the zona limitans intrathalamica
and the prethalamus
.
Dlx5/6 expression is necessary for normal lower jaw patterning in vertebrates .
Dlx7 is expressed in bone marrow
.
Transcription factor
In molecular biology and genetics, a transcription factor is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the flow of genetic information from DNA to mRNA...
s which are related to the Drosophila
Drosophila
Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" or more appropriately pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit...
distal-less (Dll) gene .
The family has been related to a number of developmental features.
The family seems to be well preserved across species.
Known members of the family include Dlx1 to Dlx7. They form bigene clusters with each other. There are Dlx1-Dlx2, Dlx5-Dlx6 and Dlx3-Dlx7 clusters in vertebrates. Each of those are linked to a specific Hox-gene cluster. In higher fishes, like zebrafish, there are a couple of additional dlx-genes, dlx5 and dlx8. In zebrafish the orthologous genes to vertebrate Dlx5-Dlx6 are dlx4 and dlx6, which form a bigene cluster in zebrafish. These additional genes are not linked with each other, or any other dlx-gene.
Dlx4, Dlx7, Dlx8 and Dlx9 are the same gene in vertebrates. They're named differently, because every time the same gene was found, the researchers thought they had found a new gene.
Dlx genes are required for the tangential migration of interneuron
Interneuron
An interneuron is a multipolar neuron which connects afferent neurons and efferent neurons in neural pathways...
s from the subpallium to the pallium during vertebrate brain development . It has been suggested that Dlx promotes the migration of interneuron
Interneuron
An interneuron is a multipolar neuron which connects afferent neurons and efferent neurons in neural pathways...
s by repressing a set of proteins that are normally expressed in terminally differentiated neurons and act to promote the outgrowth of dendrite
Dendrite
Dendrites are the branched projections of a neuron that act to conduct the electrochemical stimulation received from other neural cells to the cell body, or soma, of the neuron from which the dendrites project...
s and axon
Axon
An axon is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body or soma....
s . Mice lacking Dlx1 exhibit electrophysiological and histological evidence consistent with delayed-onset epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
.
Dlx2 has been associated with a number of areas including development of the zona limitans intrathalamica
Zona limitans intrathalamica
The zona limitans intrathalamica is a lineage-restriction compartment and primary developmental boundary in the vertebrate forebrain that serves as a signaling center and a restrictive border between the thalamus and the prethalamus...
and the prethalamus
Prethalamus
The prethalamus or subthalamus is part of the diencephalon and therefore part of the brain.Developmental biologists prefer the term prethalamus, as it can be genetically defined , whereas anatomists often use the expression subthalamus.The prethalamus is part of the mid-diencephalic territory...
.
Dlx5/6 expression is necessary for normal lower jaw patterning in vertebrates .
Dlx7 is expressed in bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
.