FOXC

The FOXC family of transcription factors (FOXC1 and FOXC2) plays essential roles in the regulation of embryonic, ocular, and cardiac development. Mutations and abnormal expression of FOXC proteins are implicated in genetic diseases as well as cancer. FOXC1 and FOXC2, share 90% full-length sequence identity, with 98% consensus in the forkhead domain. FOXC1 is an essential component in embryonic development of brain, eye and bone. FOXC1 knock-out mice die at birth with hydrocephalus, eye defects, and multiple skeletal abnormalities. FOXC2, the other member of FOXC subfamily, is a key regulator of adipocyte metabolism, skeletal tissue development, lymphangiogenesis, and lung maturation. In addition, FOXC1 and FOXC2 cooperatively control developmental processes such as cardiovascular, renal and somite development^[1].