Background of the antigen
Homeobox (HOX) genes, which share a highly conserved 183-bp sequence, encode proteins capable of binding to specific DNA sequences and functioning as transcription factors. During embryogenesis, HOX genes play a critical role in the spatial and temporal differentiation of cells. HoxC4, a sequence-specific transcription factor, belongs to the Antp HOX family and localizes to the nucleus. It functions as a part of a developmental regulatory system, providing cells with specific positional identities on the anterior-posterior axis. HoxC4 expression levels increase with differentiation of lymphoid cells, suggesting its role in the molecular regulation of hematopoiesis. HoxC4 is also expressed in differentiated keratinocytes.