The HOX11 gene encodes a DNA-binding nuclear transcription factor belonging to a distinct family of homeobox genes.

A translocation involving human chromosome 10, band q24, in a subset of T-cell acute leukemias disrupts a region surrounding the putative oncogene HOX11, which encodes a protein with a homeodomain. The HOX11 protein binds to a specific DNA sequence, it localizes to the cell nucleus, and it transactivates transcription of a reporter gene linked to a cis-regulatory element, suggesting that HOX11 functions in vivo as a positive transcription activator. PCR analysis shows that the HOX11 homeodomain is a member of a distinct class of homeodomains, representatives of which occur in murine and Drosophila genomes. These all contain a threonine residue in place of the more common isoleucine or valine in helix 3 of the homeodomain. HOX11 therefore appears to belong to a family of DNA-binding transactivators of transcription. IMAGES:

在部分T细胞急性白血病病例中，涉及人类10号染色体q24区带的染色体易位会破坏推定致癌基因HOX11周边的基因组区域，该基因编码一种带有同源结构域（homeodomain）的蛋白质。HOX11蛋白可结合特定DNA序列，定位于细胞核内，并反式激活与顺式调控元件（cis-regulatory element）相连的报告基因的转录，这提示HOX11在体内可作为正向转录激活因子发挥功能。聚合酶链式反应（Polymerase Chain Reaction，PCR）分析显示，HOX11同源结构域属于一类独特的同源结构域家族，该家族的代表序列存在于小鼠和果蝇的基因组中。这类同源结构域的第3螺旋区域中，均含有苏氨酸残基，而非更为常见的异亮氨酸或缬氨酸。因此，HOX11似乎属于一类能够结合DNA的转录反式激活因子家族。图像：