MKX

This article is about the protein. For the Mortal Kombat video game, see Mortal Kombat X. For other uses, see MKX (disambiguation).

Homeobox protein Mohawk, also known as iroquois homeobox protein-like 1, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MKX (mohawk homeobox) gene.^[5] MKX is a member of an Iroquois (IRX) family-related class of 'three-amino acid loop extension' (TALE) atypical homeobox proteins characterized by 3 additional amino acids in the loop region between helix I and helix II of the homeodomain.^[5][6]

MKX
Identifiers
Aliases	MKX, C10orf48, IFRX, IRXL1, mohawk homeobox
External IDs	OMIM: 601332; MGI: 2687286; HomoloGene: 72239; GeneCards: MKX; OMA:MKX - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 10 (human)[1] Band 10p12.1 Start 27,672,874 bp[1] End 27,746,060 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 18 (mouse)[2] Band 18 A1|18 4.53 cM Start 6,934,518 bp[2] End 7,004,780 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in Achilles tendon endothelial cell right coronary artery prostate popliteal artery tibial arteries testicle stromal cell of endometrium anterior pituitary left coronary artery Top expressed in hand cumulus cell somite foot genital tubercle lacrimal gland female urethra tail of embryo desmocranium calvaria More reference expression data BioGPS n/a
Gene ontology Molecular function sequence-specific DNA binding DNA binding DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific Cellular component nucleus Biological process regulation of transcription, DNA-templated muscle organ development multicellular organism development regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 283078 210719 Ensembl ENSG00000150051 ENSMUSG00000061013 UniProt Q8IYA7 Q8BIA3 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001242702 NM_173576 NM_177595 RefSeq (protein) NP_001229631 NP_775847 NP_808263 Location (UCSC) Chr 10: 27.67 – 27.75 Mb Chr 18: 6.93 – 7 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
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Function

MKX is a transcription factor that regulates tendon differentiation during embryological development. Knocking out this gene in mouse embryos results in them developing hypoplastic tendons containing less type I collagen.^[7] MKX binds directly to the promoter of MyoD and represses its expression, negatively regulating muscle differentiation.^[8]

Expression of MKX is maintained in adult tendon tissues, decreasing as a result of ageing or osteoarthritis. Collagen fibres in tendons become more dense and thick following mechanical stimulation as a result of exercise,^[9] and MKX is essential in this mechanosensory process.^[10]