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sionnach commented on the word fox proteins
FOX (Forkhead box) proteins are a family of transcription factors that play important roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and longevity. Many FOX proteins are important to embryonic development.
The defining feature of FOX proteins is the forkhead box, a sequence of 80 to 100 amino acids forming a motif that binds to DNA. This forkhead motif is also known as the winged helix due to the butterfly-like appearance of the loops in the protein structure of the domain. Forkhead genes are a subgroup of the helix-turn-helix class of proteins.
A prominent member of the FOX family is the FOXp2 gene, dubbed the "language gene". Further information on this chatty gene may be found here:
foxp2, the suave gene
June 26, 2009