title: Homeodomain proteins in action: similar DNA binding preferences, highly variable connectivity.
abstract: Homeodomain proteins are evolutionary conserved proteins present in the entire eukaryote kingdom. They execute functions that are essential for life, both in developing and adult organisms. Most homeodomain proteins act as transcription factors and bind DNA to control the activity of other genes. In contrast to their similar DNA binding specificity, homeodomain proteins execute highly diverse and context-dependent functions. Several factors, including genome accessibility, DNA shape, combinatorial binding and the ability to interact with many transcriptional partners, diversify the activity of homeodomain proteins and culminate in the activation of highly dynamic, context-specific transcriptional programs. Clarifying how homeodomain transcription factors work is central to our understanding of development, disease and evolution.
authors: School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. Electronic address: nicoletta.bobola@manchester.ac.uk.
authors: Nicoletta
authors: N
authors: Bobola
authors: Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France. Electronic address: samir.merabet@ens-lyon.fr.
authors: Samir
authors: S
authors: Merabet
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D004247:DNA