This gene encodes a member of the iroquois homeobox gene family, which are involved in several embryonic developmental processes. Knockout mice lacking this gene show that it is required for retinal cone bipolar cell differentiation, and that it negatively regulates potassium channel gene expression in the heart to ensure coordinated cardiac repolarization. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2011]
Forensic Context
A study in rats demonstrated that the mRNA for the IRX5 was significantly down-regulated in heart tissue following severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation, with a log2 ratio of -5.15514016, indicating its involvement in the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury response [Lin et al. DOI:10.1186/s12867-018-0113-8].