Brachyury protein is a transcription factor encoded by the TBXT gene, belonging to the T-box family of genes. It plays a crucial role in embryonic development, particularly in the formation and differentiation of the mesoderm and the notochord, which is the precursor of the spinal column. In adults, Brachyury is almost exclusively expressed in notochord-derived cells. Abnormal expression of Brachyury has been associated with certain cancers, such as chordoma, a malignant tumor that arises from residual notochordal cells. Additionally, it is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various carcinomas, promoting tumor invasion and metastasis.
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