"Self‐regulation, " a new facet of Hox genes' function. Issue 1 (2nd September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheth, Rushikesh; Bastida, Maria Félix; Kmita, Marie; Ros, Marian; Wellik, Deneen; Torres, Miguel; Ros, Marian
• Is Part Of: Developmental dynamics. Volume 243:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 191
• Publication Date: 2013-09-02
• Subjects: Morphogenesis -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; Anatomie -- Périodiques; Biologie du développement -- Périodiques; 571.833
• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-8388

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <underline> <bold>Background:</bold> </underline> Precise temporal and spatial expression of the clustered <italic>Hox</italic> genes is essential for patterning the developing embryo. Temporal activation of <italic>Hox</italic> genes was shown to be cluster‐autonomous. However, gene clustering appears dispensable for spatial colinear expression. Generally, a set of <italic>Hox</italic> genes expressed in a group of cells instructs these cells about their fate such that the differential expression of <italic>Hox</italic> genes results in morphological diversity. The spatial colinearity is considered to rely both on local and long‐range <italic>cis</italic> regulation. <underline><bold>Results:</bold></underline> Here, we report on the global deregulation of <italic>HoxA</italic> and <italic>HoxD</italic> expression patterns upon inactivation of a subset of HOXA and HOXD proteins. <underline><bold>Conclusions:</bold></underline> Our data suggest the existence of a "self‐regulation" mechanism, a process by which HOX proteins establish and/or maintain the spatial domains of the <italic>Hox</italic> gene family and we propose that the functionally dominant HOX proteins could contribute to generating the spatial parameters of <italic>Hox</italic> expression in a given tissue, i.e., HOX controlling the establishment of the ultimate HOX code. <italic>Developmental Dynamics 243:182–191, 2014</italic>. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>