Fig. 6. Alignments of various Dll and Dlx subdomains. (A) Dll/Dlx homedomain alignments. The consensus represents amino acids conserved among all family members. Dots in the consensus represent non-conserved residues. (B) Extended homedomain alignments of Dll and Dlx proteins. Underlined residues are conserved among two or more Dlx subgroup members or between Dll and Dlx. The consensi represent residues conserved in two or more subgroup members. Dots in the individual amino acid sequences represent gaps introduced to enhance the alignment. Dots in the consensi represent non-conserved residues. Asterisks denote human sequences. (C) Dlx2, Dlx3 and Dlx5 contain DllA domains. This domain originally was defined for various vertebrate Dlx3 proteins (Akimenko et al., 1994; Robinson and Mahon, 1994). Underlined residues are conserved between at least two Dlx proteins. The consensus represents residues conserved in two or more Dlx proteins. Dots represent non-conserved residues. (D) Sequences surrounding the conserved C-terminal tryptophan residues are also partially conserved. Underlined residues are conserved among two or more Dlx subgroup members or between Dll and Dlx. The consensi represent residues conserved in two or more subgroup members. (E) A conserved motif is found upstream of the Dll homeodomain and downstream of the Dlx2 homeodomain. (F) An spp motif is found upstream of the first conserved tryptophan. Underlined residues are conserved among two or more family members. Bold text is used to highlight the abundant serines and prolines.