The homeobox protein, HESX1, which is also known as Rathke’s pouch homeobox, HANF, homeodomain transcription factor, and anterior-restricted homeobox protein is a transcription factor that belongs to the homeodomain family of DNA binding proteins. HESX1 is initially expressed in embryonic stem cells and the primitive forebrain, and is essential for normal development of the eyes and other anterior CNS structures, such as the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the olfactory bulbs. The homeobox gene Hesx1 is expressed in the anterior visceral endoderm (AVE), anterior axial mesendoderm (AME), and anterior neural ectoderm (ANE) during early embryogenesis. Mutations in the Hesx1 gene are associated with disorders that are comparable with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD). These disorders are characterized by hypoplasia of the optic nerve, various types of forebrain defects and pituitary hormone deficiencies, including hypothyroidism. Hesx1 also acts as a transcriptional repressor of reporter gene constructs in tissue culture assays.

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