The homeobox with DNA-binding activity, contributes to their activity as transcription factors. Hox genes are evolutionarily conserved transcription factors, which act to control important development pathways involved in the morphogenesis of the embryo. HOXB7 is expressed in various human hematopoietic cell lines and tissues as well as in proliferating melanocytes. In addition to roles in normal development, altered homeobox gene function or expression is implicated in carcinomas associated with breast, prostate, kidney, colon, skin and brain.
