BARX2 Gene

HGNC Family	Homeoboxes
Name	BARX homeobox 2
Description	This gene encodes a member of the homeobox transcription factor family. A highly related protein in mouse has been shown to influence cellular processes that control cell adhesion and remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton in myoblast fusion and chondrogenesis. The encoded protein may also play a role in cancer progression. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Summary	{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n BARX2 is a homeobox transcription factor that acts as a versatile regulator of cell differentiation, tissue morphogenesis, and tumor suppression across diverse biological contexts. In developmental systems, BARX2 plays a critical role in ocular gland and eyelid formation by modulating cell adhesion and extracellular matrix remodeling through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases, in cooperation with FGF signaling, thereby ensuring proper branching morphogenesis in ocular structures."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In the context of skeletal development, BARX2 is expressed in mesenchymal condensations and developing cartilage, where it cooperates with Sox proteins to promote mesenchymal aggregation and chondrogenic differentiation via regulation of adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components such as collagen II."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n BARX2 also exerts key functions in myogenesis. It acts downstream of classic myogenic regulatory factors (MyoD and myogenin) to accelerate myoblast fusion and direct cytoskeletal remodeling, thereby promoting myotube formation and, in certain conditions, inducing dedifferentiation with subsequent cell cycle re‐entry. This dual role suggests that BARX2 functions as a molecular switch balancing differentiation and proliferation during muscle growth and repair."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_fs", "start_ref": "3", "end_ref": "6"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In cancer, BARX2 generally functions as a tumor suppressor. In breast cancer cells, it regulates the expression and alternative isoform balance of the estrogen receptor, thereby modulating estrogen‐dependent cell growth and invasion, while in oral squamous cell carcinoma, its targeting by oncogenic microRNAs results in increased cell migration and metastasis."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_fs", "start_ref": "7", "end_ref": "9"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Similar suppressor roles have been documented in nasopharyngeal, gastric, and non‐small cell lung carcinomas where BARX2 downregulation is associated with enhanced tumor cell proliferation, migration, and activation of oncogenic pathways such as Wnt/β‑catenin."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_fs", "start_ref": "10", "end_ref": "13"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n \n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Furthermore, BARX2 expression is subject to epigenetic regulation, as exemplified by its demethylation by TET2 in embryonic stem cells, a process that helps sustain its expression during early differentiation."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "14"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Collectively, these findings underscore BARX2’s multifaceted role in orchestrating gene networks that influence cell adhesion, cytoskeletal architecture and differentiation during both normal development and tumorigenesis.\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Cindy Tsau, Masataka Ito, Anastasia Gromova, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Barx2 and Fgf10 regulate ocular glands branching morphogenesis by controlling extracellular matrix remodeling."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Development (2011)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1242/dev.066241"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.066241"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "21750040"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21750040"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Robyn Meech, David B Edelman, Frederick S Jones, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The homeobox transcription factor Barx2 regulates chondrogenesis during limb development."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Development (2005)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1242/dev.01811"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.01811"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "15800003"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15800003"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Robyn Meech, Helen Makarenkova, David B Edelman, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The homeodomain protein Barx2 promotes myogenic differentiation and is regulated by myogenic regulatory factors."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Biol Chem (2003)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1074/jbc.M207617200"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M207617200"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "12486129"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12486129"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Helen P Makarenkova, Katie N Gonzalez, William B Kiosses, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Barx2 controls myoblast fusion and promotes MyoD-mediated activation of the smooth muscle alpha-actin gene."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Biol Chem (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1074/jbc.M807208200"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M807208200"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19269978"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19269978"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Robyn Meech, Katie N Gonzalez, Marietta Barro, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Barx2 is expressed in satellite cells and is required for normal muscle growth and regeneration."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Stem Cells (2012)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1002/stem.777"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.777"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "22076929"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22076929"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Robyn Meech, Mariana Gomez, Christopher Woolley, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The homeobox transcription factor Barx2 regulates plasticity of young primary myofibers."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "PLoS One (2010)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1371/journal.pone.0011612"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0011612"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "20657655"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20657655"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 7, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "T A Stevens, R Meech "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "BARX2 and estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) coordinately regulate the production of alternatively spliced ESR1 isoforms and control breast cancer cell growth and invasion."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncogene (2006)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1038/sj.onc.1209529"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1209529"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "16636675"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16636675"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 8, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Tracy A Stevens, Jason S Iacovoni, David B Edelman, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Identification of novel binding elements and gene targets for the homeodomain protein BARX2."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Biol Chem (2004)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1074/jbc.M310259200"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M310259200"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "14744868"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14744868"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 9, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Shu-Chun Lin, Shou-Yen Kao, Jennifer Chen-Yu Chang, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Up-regulation of miR-187 modulates the advances of oral carcinoma by targeting BARX2 tumor suppressor."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncotarget (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.18632/oncotarget.11349"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.11349"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "27542258"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27542258"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 10, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Zhibing Lu, Hui Peng, Ruijuan Li, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "BarH-like homeobox 2 represses the transcription of keratin 16 and affects Ras signaling pathway to suppress nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Bioengineered (2022)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1080/21655979.2022.2026549"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2022.2026549"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "35037835"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35037835"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 11, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yushuai Mi, Senlin Zhao, Chongzhi Zhou, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Downregulation of homeobox gene Barx2 increases gastric cancer proliferation and metastasis and predicts poor patient outcomes."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncotarget (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.18632/oncotarget.11260"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.11260"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "27533254"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27533254"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 12, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Juan Ma, Ling-Ling Xia, Xue-Qing Yao, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "BARX2 expression is downregulated by CpG island hypermethylation and is associated with suppressed cell proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncol Rep (2020)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.3892/or.2020.7558"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7558"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "32236603"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32236603"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 13, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Hao Chen, Maowei Zhang, Wenhui Zhang, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Downregulation of BarH-like homeobox 2 promotes cell proliferation, migration and aerobic glycolysis through Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and predicts a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung carcinoma."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Thorac Cancer (2018)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1111/1759-7714.12593"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12593"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "29341468"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29341468"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 14, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Zijun Qiao, Shiqiang Zhang, Tao Hu, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Tet2 regulates Barx2 expression in undifferentiated and early differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2020)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.09.095"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.09.095"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "33069358"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33069358"}]}]}]}
Proteins	BARX2_HUMAN
NCBI Gene ID	8538
API
Download Associations
Predicted Functions
Co-expressed Genes
Expression in Tissues and Cell Lines

Functional Associations

BARX2 has 4,130 functional associations with biological entities spanning 9 categories (molecular profile, organism, chemical, functional term, phrase or reference, disease, phenotype or trait, structural feature, cell line, cell type or tissue, gene, protein or microRNA, sequence feature) extracted from 107 datasets.

Click the + buttons to view associations for BARX2 from the datasets below.

If available, associations are ranked by standardized value

Harmonizome 3.0

BARX2 Gene

Functional Associations

Please acknowledge the Harmonizome in your publications by citing the following reference(s):

	Dataset	Summary
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles	tissue samples with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray	tissue samples with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray dataset.
	BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other cell lines from the BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures	small molecule perturbations changing expression of BARX2 gene from the Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of BARX2 gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations	cell types associated with BARX2 gene from the CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of BARX2 gene from the CHEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of BARX2 gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022	transcription factors binding the promoter of BARX2 gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022 dataset.
	CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules	small molecule perturbations changing expression of BARX2 gene from the CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing BARX2 protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing BARX2 protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing BARX2 protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing BARX2 protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components co-occuring with BARX2 protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components co-occuring with BARX2 protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of BARX2 gene relative to other cell lines from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with BARX2 gene mutations from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions	chemicals interacting with BARX2 gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions dataset.
	CTD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with BARX2 gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency	cell lines with fitness changed by BARX2 gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases associated with BARX2 gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases co-occuring with BARX2 gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases co-occuring with BARX2 gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with BARX2 gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Phenotype Associations	phenotypes associated with BARX2 gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Phenoptype Associations dataset.
	ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles	histone modification site profiles with high histone modification abundance at BARX2 gene from the ENCODE Histone Modification Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of BARX2 gene from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of BARX2 gene in ChIP-seq datasets from the ENCODE Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells	PubMedIDs of publications reporting gene signatures containing BARX2 from the ESCAPE Omics Signatures of Genes and Proteins for Stem Cells dataset.
	GAD High Level Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with BARX2 gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the GAD High Level Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	GDSC Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of BARX2 gene relative to other cell lines from the GDSC Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	GeneRIF Biological Term Annotations	biological terms co-occuring with BARX2 gene in literature-supported statements describing functions of genes from the GeneRIF Biological Term Annotations dataset.
	GeneSigDB Published Gene Signatures	PubMedIDs of publications reporting gene signatures containing BARX2 from the GeneSigDB Published Gene Signatures dataset.
	GEO Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Diseases	disease perturbations changing expression of BARX2 gene from the GEO Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Diseases dataset.