Potential role of exitron-containing homeobox genes in cancer

Homeobox genes are protagonists in developmental and cancer biology, making comprehending their regulation pivotal in multiple molecular pathways. Exitrons, also known as intronic exons, are new players in the transcriptional organization, providing additional splicing variants whose functions are still vastly unknown. Exitron splicing sites were identified in eight homeobox genes, which has not been yet debated in the scientific literature. Due to the intimate connection between homeobox genes and tumorigenesis, it is worth investing more time in understanding how these less explored exitron-containing transcriptional isoforms could play a role in modulating the homeobox gene's biological functions. The perspectives devised in this article are meant to instigate fresh debates on how the transcriptional variants retaining exitrons identified in the human homeobox genes HOXA1, HOXA9, HOXD8, NKX3.1, and DLX6 can be examined in the context of tumorigenesis.

Automated summary

Homeobox genes play important roles in developmental and cancer biology, and understanding their regulation is crucial in various molecular pathways. Exitrons, also known as intronic exons, are new players in transcriptional organization, providing additional splicing variants with unknown functions. This article introduces perspectives for exploring the role of exitron-containing transcriptional isoforms in the context of tumorigenesis for homeobox genes HOXA1, HOXA9, HOXD8, NKX3.1, and DLX6.