Biology:Short-stature homeobox gene

From HandWiki
Short description: Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens


A representation of the 3D structure of the protein myoglobin showing turquoise α-helices.
Generic protein structure example

The short-stature homeobox gene (SHOX), also known as short-stature-homeobox-containing gene, is a gene located on both the X and Y chromosomes, which is associated with short stature in humans if mutated or present in only one copy (haploinsufficiency).

Pathology

SHOX was first found during a search for the cause of short stature in women with Turner syndrome, where there is loss of genetic material from the X chromosome, typically by loss of one entire X chromosome.[1]

Since its discovery, the gene has been found to play a role in idiopathic short stature, Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis, and Langer mesomelic dysplasia.

Gene dosage effects of extra copies of SHOX may be a cause of the increased stature seen in other sex chromosome aneuploidy conditions such as triple X, XYY, Klinefelter, XXYY and similar syndromes.[2]

Genetics and function

SHOX is composed of 6 different exons and is located in the pseudoautosomal region 1 (PAR1) of the X chromosome (Xp22.33) and Y chromosome.[1] Since genes in PAR escape X inactivation, their dosage changes with sex chromosome aneuploidies such as Turner.[3]

Similar genes are present in a variety of animals and insects.

It is a homeobox gene, meaning that it helps to regulate development.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "SHOX - short stature homeobox - Genetics Home Reference". U.S. National Library of Medicine. 2005-09-01. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene=shox. 
  2. "Tall stature, insulin resistance, and disturbed behavior in a girl with the triple X syndrome harboring three SHOX genes: offspring of a father with mosaic Klinefelter syndrome but with two maternal X chromosomes". Hormone Research 61 (5): 205–10. 2004. doi:10.1159/000076532. PMID 14752208. 
  3. "The Eutherian Pseudoautosomal Region" (in english). Cytogenetic and Genome Research 147 (2–3): 81–94. 2015. doi:10.1159/000443157. PMID 26730606. https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/443157. 

Further reading

External links