Developmental Signals - Pax

Introduction

The name derived from Drosophila gene "paired" (prd) with a box (homeodomain) domain. A transcription factor of the helix-turn-helix structural family, DNA binding, and activating gene expression. In human, there are nine member proteins from Pax1 to Pax9.

Pax6 has been identified as regulating development of the central nervous system, eyes, nose, pancreas and pituitary gland.

Some Recent Findings

Downstream genes of Pax6 in the developing rat hindbrain <ref><pubmed>20082710</pubmed>| BMC Dev. Biol. "These results indicate that Unc5h1 and Cyp26b1 are novel candidates for target genes transactivated by Pax6. Furthermore, our results suggest the interesting possibility that Pax6 regulates anterior-posterior patterning of the hindbrain via activation of Cyp26b1, an enzyme that metabolizes retinoic acid."