Homeobox protein DBX1, also known as developing brain homeobox protein 1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DBX1 gene. The DBX1 gene is a transcription factor gene that is pivotal in interneuron differentiation in the ventral spinal cord.

DBX1
Identifiers
AliasesDBX1, developing brain homeobox 1, HLX1
External IDsMGI: 94867; HomoloGene: 19002; GeneCards: DBX1; OMA:DBX1 - orthologs
Orthologs
SpeciesHumanMouse
Entrez
Ensembl
UniProt
RefSeq (mRNA)

NM_001029865

NM_001005232

RefSeq (protein)

NP_001025036

NP_001005232

Location (UCSC)Chr 11: 20.16 – 20.16 MbChr 7: 49.28 – 49.29 Mb
PubMed search[3][4]
Wikidata
View/Edit HumanView/Edit Mouse

The spinal interneurons V0 and V1 are derived from progenitor domains that are differentiated by the expression of homeodomain proteins DBX1 and DBX2. DBX1 is spatially restricted and has a critical role in establishing the distinction of V0 and V1 neuronal fate. In DBX1 mutant mice, neural progenitors fail to generate V0 interneurons and instead gave rise to interneurons expressing V1 characteristics, such as their transcription factor profile, neurotransmitter phenotype, migratory pattern, and aspects of their axonal trajectory, suggesting that this single homeodomain transcription factor coordinates many of the differentiated properties of one class of interneurons generated in the ventral spinal cord.

V0 and V1 interneurons are thought to be critical in the role of rhythmic breathing, after using a neonatal mouse model. Destruction of these DBX1 neurons in the pre-Botzinger complex showed an impaired respiratory rhythm as well as a decreased magnitude of motor output activity.[5][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000109851Ensembl, May 2017
  2. ^ a b c GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000030507Ensembl, May 2017
  3. ^ "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  4. ^ "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  5. ^ "Entrez Gene: developing brain homeobox 1".
  6. ^ Pierani A, Moran-Rivard L, Sunshine MJ, Littman DR, Goulding M, Jessell TM (February 2001). "Control of interneuron fate in the developing spinal cord by the progenitor homeodomain protein Dbx1". Neuron. 29 (2): 367–84. doi:10.1016/S0896-6273(01)00212-4. PMID 11239429. S2CID 2647092.