NK3 homeobox 2 also known as NKX3-2 is a human gene. It is a homolog of bagpipe (bap) in Drosophila and therefore also known as Bapx1 (bagpipe homeobox homolog 1). The protein encoded by this gene is a homeodomain containing transcription factor.[5]
NKX3-2 plays a role in the development of the axial and limb skeleton.[6] Mutations disrupting the function of this gene are associated with spondylo-megaepiphyseal-metaphyseal dysplasia (SMMD).[7] Nkx3-2 in mice also regulates patterning in the middle ear.[8] Two small bones in the middle ear, the malleus and incus, are homologous to the articular and quadrate, the bones of the proximal jaw joint in fish and other non-mammalian jawed vertebrates. NKX3-2 expression is required to pattern the articulated joint between these jaw bones, as knockdowns or knockouts of this gene result in the loss of the jaw joint in zebrafish,[9] chicken,[10] and amphibians.[11] Overexpression of this gene results in the development of ectopic mandibular cartilages in zebrafish [12] and amphibians.[13]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Yoshiura KI, Murray JC (October 1997). "Sequence and chromosomal assignment of human BAPX1, a bagpipe-related gene, to 4p16.1: a candidate gene for skeletal dysplasia". Genomics. 45 (2): 425–8. doi:10.1006/geno.1997.4926. PMID9344671.
^Tucker AS, Watson RP, Lettice LA, Yamada G, Hill RE (2004). "Bapx1 regulates patterning in the middle ear: altered regulatory role in the transition from the proximal jaw during vertebrate evolution". Development. 131 (6): 1235–1245. doi:10.1242/dev.01017. PMID14973294. S2CID447070.
^Wilson J, Tucker AS (2004). "Fgf and Bmp signals repress the expression of Bapx1 in the mandibular mesenchyme and control the position of the developing jaw joint". Developmental Biology. 266 (1): 138–150. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2003.10.012. PMID14729484.
