FOXN1
FOXN1 (forkhead box N1, also known as FKHL20, WHN and RONU) is a nuclear transcription factor of the forkhead family. It acts as a master regulator of thymic epithelial cell development and also promotes epithelial differentiation in the epidermis and hair follicles. Browse Assay Genie's current range of FOXN1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
FOXN1 is a transcriptional regulator that controls the development, differentiation and function of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), in both the prenatal and postnatal thymus. It acts as a master regulator of TEC lineage development, and is required from the onset of differentiation in progenitor TECs through to the final steps in which TECs mature and become fully functional. It regulates, directly or indirectly, genes that mediate diverse aspects of thymus development and function, including MHC class II, DLL4, CCL25, CTSL, CD40 and PAX1.
The FOXN1 protein directs immature TECs to become functional cortical and medullary TECs, and is essential for maintaining the medullary population after birth. It is involved in the morphogenesis and maintenance of the three-dimensional thymic microstructure and is essential for vascularisation of the thymus anlage. It also supports haematopoiesis, particularly T lineage progenitors in the bone marrow niche with age, and plays a crucial role in the early prenatal stages of T-cell ontogeny. In the epidermis and hair follicles, it promotes terminal differentiation of epithelial cells, partly by negatively regulating protein kinase C activity. The NCBI Gene summary describes it as a DNA-binding transcription factor thought to regulate keratin gene expression.
The FOXN1 gene belongs to the forkhead box group and was originally identified as the winged-helix nude (Rowett nude) gene. Mutations at the nude locus in mice and rats produce hairlessness and athymia, with a severely compromised immune system. In humans, a mutation in this gene has been correlated with T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia and nail dystrophy. Alternative splicing in the 5' UTR has been observed. The mouse ortholog is Foxn1.
FOXN1 is a master regulator of thymic epithelial cell lineage development, from progenitor TECs through to mature, fully functional cells.
It plays a crucial role in early prenatal T-cell ontogeny and supports T lineage progenitors in the bone marrow niche with age.
FOXN1 promotes terminal differentiation of epidermal and hair follicle epithelial cells and is thought to regulate keratin gene expression.
A FOXN1 mutation has been correlated with T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia and nail dystrophy, linking thymus and skin phenotypes.
FOXN1 is a transcription factor that regulates the development, differentiation and function of thymic epithelial cells. It controls genes including MHC class II, DLL4, CCL25, CTSL, CD40 and PAX1, and it promotes terminal differentiation of epithelial cells in the epidermis and hair follicles.
FOXN1 is also known as FKHL20, WHN and RONU. Its previous names are winged-helix nude and Rowett nude, which refer to the nude phenotype of hairlessness and athymia seen when the gene is mutated in mice and rats.
The human gene is orthologous to the mouse and rat nude genes, and the mouse ortholog is Foxn1. A mutation in human FOXN1 has been correlated with T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia and nail dystrophy. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other forkhead box N family members with research reagents at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O15353; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.