| Primary Identifier | IPR003026 | Type | Family |
| Short Name | Otx1_TF |
| description | Otx proteins constitute a class of vertebrate homeodomain-containingtranscription factors that have been shown to be essential for anteriorhead formation, including brain morphogenesis. They are orthologous to theproduct of the Drosophila head gap gene, orthodenticle (Otd), and appear toplay similar roles in both, since the developmental abnormalities caused bydisruption of these transcription factors in one, can be recovered bysubstitution of the factor(s) from the other. Such studies have providedstrong evidence that there exists a conserved genetic programme for insectand mammalian brain development, which presumably arose in a more primitivecommon ancestor [, ].Two vertebrate orthodenticle-related transcription factors have beenindentified, Otx1 and Otx2, which have sizes of 355 and 289 residuesrespectively. They contain a bicoid-like homeodomain, which features aconserved lysine residue at position 9 of the DNA recognition helix, whichis thought to confer high-affinity binding to TAATCC/T elements on DNA [].Otd-like transcription factors have also been found in zebrafish and certain lamprey species. Studies of mice lacking Otx1 (due to targeted gene disruption) have shed light on its role in development, such mice showing impaired corticogenesis and sense organ development. Phenotypic abnormalities noted in the cerebral cortices include reduced cell proliferation and total cell number, together with disruption of the formation of the normally well-ordered cortical cell layers, which are characteristic of these structures. Abnormalities are also observed in the eye and inner ear. |
