What is Homeobox?

SAFM™ Technology (patent pending) refers to Selective Amplification of Family Members including all known and novel members of gene families. This technology is particularly designed to fundamentally overcome the current inherent problems and limitations of degenerate PCR by utilizing Seegene's proprietary ACP™ (Annealing Control Primer) system.

The homeobox is a class of transcription factors (TFs) which has a highly conserved DNA sequence of about 180 base pairs. The name of homeobox derives from its original identification in Drosophila homeotic loci.

Homeobox genes are master control genes involved in the genetic control of development of the body plan. The property of the genes is a widespread conservation of developmental genes in animals. It is widely believed that there are common mechanisms underlying the development of all animals.

Multicellular organisms induce anterior-posterior axis and body segmentation during development. This is accomplished by turning on a series of genes called homeotic selector genes or homeobox genes. If these genes were mutated, abnormal structural development will appear.

Evidence is accumulating to suggest that homeobox genes play an important role in oncogenesis. Many cancers, including leukemias, colon, skin, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers, exhibit expression of [or alteration in] homeobox genes.

Recently, it was shown that loss of expression in human breast cancer of p53, a gene that protects cell against malignant transformation, may be primarily due to lack of expression of HOXA5 (Nature, 2000;405:974-978).