This gene encodes a member of the RIEG/PITX homeobox family, which is in the bicoid class of homeodomain proteins. Members of this family act as transcription factors. This protein is involved in lens formation during eye development,[5] and the specification and terminal differentiation of mesencephalic dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra compacta that are lost in Parkinson's disease.[6]
Smits SM, Smidt MP (2006). "The role of Pitx3 in survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons". Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa. Vol. 70. pp. 57–60. doi:10.1007/978-3-211-45295-0_10. ISBN 978-3-211-28927-3. PMID17017509. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
Hittner HM, Kretzer FL, Antoszyk JH, Ferrell RE, Mehta RS (January 1982). "Variable expressivity of autosomal dominant anterior segment mesenchymal dysgenesis in six generations". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 93 (1): 57–70. doi:10.1016/0002-9394(82)90700-0. PMID6801987.
Finzi S, Li Y, Mitchell TN, Farr A, Maumenee IH, Sallum JM, Sundin O (September 2005). "Posterior polar cataract: genetic analysis of a large family". Ophthalmic Genetics. 26 (3): 125–30. doi:10.1080/13816810500229124. PMID16272057. S2CID9519631.
Bidinost C, Matsumoto M, Chung D, Salem N, Zhang K, Stockton DW, Khoury A, Megarbane A, Bejjani BA, Traboulsi EI (April 2006). "Heterozygous and homozygous mutations in PITX3 in a large Lebanese family with posterior polar cataracts and neurodevelopmental abnormalities". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 47 (4): 1274–80. doi:10.1167/iovs.05-1095. PMID16565358.
Burdon KP, McKay JD, Wirth MG, Russell-Eggit IM, Bhatti S, Ruddle JB, Dimasi D, Mackey DA, Craig JE (2006). "The PITX3 gene in posterior polar congenital cataract in Australia". Molecular Vision. 12: 367–71. PMID16636655.