LMO Family of LIM-Only Genes
Sewell H., Rabbitts T.
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This LIM domain was first described in the LIM homeodomain transcription factor Mec-3 in Caenorhabditis elegans, and named following the identification of two further proteins which share the LIM domain, that is, L(in-11), I(sl1), and M(ec-3). Unlike LIM homeodomain proteins, the LIM domain-only (LMO) proteins lack an obvious DNA-binding element and instead associate with DNA-binding proteins. The LMO family comprises four highly conserved members. Each member of the LIM-only family is involved in transcription regulation controlling normal differentiation processes and in cancer by abnormal expression, in three cases (LMO1, 2, and 3) via chromosomal translocations.