Assignment of the human homeobox 11-like 2 gene (HOX11L2) to chromosome 5q34-->q35 by radiation hybrid mapping.

The homeobox 11L2 gene (HOX11L2, TLX-3, Rnx) encodes a transcription factor and constitutes together with the HOX11 (TLX) and HOX11L1 (TLX-1, Enx) genes a distinct family of orphan homeobox genes (Kennedy et al., 1991; Roberts et al., 1994; Shirasawa et al., 1997, 2000). In the chick and mouse embryo HOX11L2 is expressed within cranial sensory ganglia, neural crest-derived dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia, as well as in distinct neuronal populations within the hindbrain and the spinal cord (Logan et al., 1998; Shirasawa et al., 2000). Its expression pattern within the developing peripheral and central nervous system suggests that it may be involved in the differentiation of specific neuronal populations as well as in the establishment of neuronal circuitry (Logan et al., 1998). Disruption of the murine homolog of HOX11L2 results in a phenotype resembling that of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in humans indicating that HOX11L2 is critical for the development of central respiratory structures (Shirasawa et al., 2000). Chromosomal localization of the HOX11L2 gene was carried out as part of its evaluation as a candidate for congenital hypoventilation syndrome.