paired box 2
Last updated 18 Apr 2023
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The PAX2 gene belongs to a family of genes that plays a critical role in the formation of tissues and organs during embryonic development. The members of the PAX gene family are also important for maintaining the normal function of certain cells after birth. To carry out these roles, the PAX genes provide instructions for making proteins that attach to specific areas of DNA and help control the activity (expression) of particular genes. On the basis of this action, PAX proteins are called transcription factors.
Normal function
The PAX2 gene belongs to a family of genes that plays a critical role in the formation of tissues and organs during embryonic development. The members of the PAX gene family are also important for maintaining the normal function of certain cells after birth. To carry out these roles, the PAX genes provide instructions for making proteins that attach to specific areas of DNA and help control the activity (expression) of particular genes. On the basis of this action, PAX proteins are called transcription factors.
During embryonic development, the PAX2 gene provides instructions for producing a protein that is involved in the formation of the eyes, ears, brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), kidneys, urinary tract, and genital tract. After birth, the PAX2 protein is thought to protect against cell death during periods of cellular stress.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
paired box gene 2
paired box homeotic gene 2
paired box protein 2
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Further reading and references
- paired box 2; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Amiel J, Audollent S, Joly D, Dureau P, Salomon R, Tellier AL, Auge J, Bouissou F, Antignac C, Gubler MC, Eccles MR, Munnich A, Vekemans M, Lyonnet S, Attie-Bitach T. PAX2 mutations in renal-coloboma syndrome: mutational hotspot and germline mosaicism. Eur J Hum Genet. 2000 Nov;8(11):820-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200539.
- Bower M, Salomon R, Allanson J, Antignac C, Benedicenti F, Benetti E, Binenbaum G, Jensen UB, Cochat P, DeCramer S, Dixon J, Drouin R, Falk MJ, Feret H, Gise R, Hunter A, Johnson K, Kumar R, Lavocat MP, Martin L, Moriniere V, Mowat D, Murer L, Nguyen HT, Peretz-Amit G, Pierce E, Place E, Rodig N, Salerno A, Sastry S, Sato T, Sayer JA, Schaafsma GC, Shoemaker L, Stockton DW, Tan WH, Tenconi R, Vanhille P, Vats A, Wang X, Warman B, Weleber RG, White SM, Wilson-Brackett C, Zand DJ, Eccles M, Schimmenti LA, Heidet L. Update of PAX2 mutations in renal coloboma syndrome and establishment of a locus-specific database. Hum Mutat. 2012 Mar;33(3):457-66. doi: 10.1002/humu.22020. Epub 2012 Jan 31.
- Bower MA, Schimmenti LA, Eccles MR. PAX2-Related Disorder. 2007 Jun 8 [updated 2025 Aug 14]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1451/
- Capone VP, Morello W, Taroni F, Montini G. Genetics of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract: The Current State of Play. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Apr 11;18(4):796. doi: 10.3390/ijms18040796.
- Daniel L, Lechevallier E, Giorgi R, Sichez H, Zattara-Cannoni H, Figarella-Branger D, Coulange C. Pax-2 expression in adult renal tumors. Hum Pathol. 2001 Mar;32(3):282-7. doi: 10.1053/hupa.2001.22753.
- Eccles MR, He S, Legge M, Kumar R, Fox J, Zhou C, French M, Tsai RW. PAX genes in development and disease: the role of PAX2 in urogenital tract development. Int J Dev Biol. 2002;46(4):535-44.
- Galvez-Ruiz A, Lehner AJ, Galindo-Ferreiro A, Schatz P. Three New PAX2 Gene Mutations in Patients with Papillorenal Syndrome. Neuroophthalmology. 2017 May 8;41(5):271-278. doi: 10.1080/01658107.2017.1307995. eCollection 2017 Oct.
- Muratovska A, Zhou C, He S, Goodyer P, Eccles MR. Paired-Box genes are frequently expressed in cancer and often required for cancer cell survival. Oncogene. 2003 Sep 11;22(39):7989-97. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1206766.
- Schimmenti LA, Manligas GS, Sieving PA. Optic nerve dysplasia and renal insufficiency in a family with a novel PAX2 mutation, Arg115X: further ophthalmologic delineation of the renal-coloboma syndrome. Ophthalmic Genet. 2003 Dec;24(4):191-202. doi: 10.1076/opge.24.4.191.17229.
- Sharma R, Sanchez-Ferras O, Bouchard M. Pax genes in renal development, disease and regeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2015 Aug;44:97-106. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.09.016. Epub 2015 Sep 26.
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