Encyclopedia
T-box transcription factor T: The TBXT gene provides instructions for making a protein called brachyury.
- genes
1. Normal Function
The TBXT gene provides instructions for making a protein called brachyury. Brachyury is a member of a protein family called T-box proteins, which play critical roles during embryonic development. T-box proteins regulate the activity of other genes by attaching (binding) to specific regions of DNA. On the basis of this action, T-box proteins are called transcription factors.
The brachyury protein is important for the development of the notochord, which is the precursor of the spinal column in the embryo. The notochord disappears before birth, but in a small percentage of individuals, some of its cells remain in the base of the skull or in the spine. The notochord helps control the development of the neural tube, which is a layer of cells that ultimately develops into the brain and spinal cord.
2. Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
2.1. Chordoma
Changes in the TBXT gene have been associated with chordoma. A chordoma is a cancerous tumor that occurs along the spine or in the base of the skull, gradually extending further into the bone and into nearby soft tissue. The tumor develops from residual cells of the notochord that begin to grow and divide uncontrollably.
An inherited duplication of the TBXT gene identified in a few families is associated with an increased risk of developing a chordoma. Duplications or increases in activity (expression) of the TBXT gene have also been identified in people with chordoma who have no history of the disorder in their family. In these individuals, the changes occur only in the tumor cells and are not inherited.
Duplications and increases in expression of the TBXT gene both result in the production of excess brachyury protein. The specific mechanism by which excess brachyury protein contributes to the development of chordomas is unclear.
2.2. Other disorders
A variation of the TBXT gene is associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, including spina bifida. Neural tube defects, which can result in spine and brain abnormalities of varying severity, result when the neural tube fails to close completely during the first few weeks of embryonic development.
The TBXT gene variation associated with neural tube defects, known as TIVS7 T/C, changes a single DNA building block (nucleotide) in a region of the gene known as intron 7. The effect of this genetic change is unclear. Researchers suggest that it may affect the regulation of brachyury protein production in early development, increasing the risk of neural tube defects.
3. Other Names for This Gene
- BRAC_HUMAN
- brachyury protein
- protein T
- T
- T brachyury homolog
- T brachyury transcription factor
- T, brachyury homolog (mouse)
- TFT
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/tbxt
References
- Jensen LE, Barbaux S, Hoess K, Fraterman S, Whitehead AS, Mitchell LE. Thehuman T locus and spina bifida risk. Hum Genet. 2004 Nov;115(6):475-82.
- Kelley MJ, Shi J, Ballew B, Hyland PL, Li WQ, Rotunno M, Alcorta DA, LiebschNJ, Mitchell J, Bass S, Roberson D, Boland J, Cullen M, He J, Burdette L, Yeager M, Chanock SJ, Parry DM, Goldstein AM, Yang XR. Characterization of T genesequence variants and germline duplications in familial and sporadic chordoma.Hum Genet. 2014 Oct;133(10):1289-97. doi: 10.1007/s00439-014-1463-z.
- Presneau N, Shalaby A, Ye H, Pillay N, Halai D, Idowu B, Tirabosco R, WhitwellD, Jacques TS, Kindblom LG, Brüderlein S, Möller P, Leithner A, Liegl B, AmaryFM, Athanasou NN, Hogendoorn PC, Mertens F, Szuhai K, Flanagan AM. Role of thetranscription factor T (brachyury) in the pathogenesis of sporadic chordoma: agenetic and functional-based study. J Pathol. 2011 Feb;223(3):327-35. doi:10.1002/path.2816.
- Vujovic S, Henderson S, Presneau N, Odell E, Jacques TS, Tirabosco R, Boshoff C, Flanagan AM. Brachyury, a crucial regulator of notochordal development, is anovel biomarker for chordomas. J Pathol. 2006 Jun;209(2):157-65.
- Yang XR, Ng D, Alcorta DA, Liebsch NJ, Sheridan E, Li S, Goldstein AM, ParryDM, Kelley MJ. T (brachyury) gene duplication confers major susceptibility tofamilial chordoma. Nat Genet. 2009 Nov;41(11):1176-8. doi: 10.1038/ng.454.
