Human HOX4E: a gene strongly expressed in the adult male and female urogenital tracts.
Homeobox-containing genes (Hox genes) are believed to play a fundamental role in development and positional identity. Four homologous Hox gene complexes are found in humans and mice. Genes at the 3' ends of these complexes tend to be expressed rostrally while those at the 5' end are expressed caudally. Whereas complete open reading frames have been reported for rostrally expressed 3' Hox genes, structural information is lacking for the more 5' genes. Genomic and cDNA clones containing the human HOX4E (also known as human Hox 4.5) gene were isolated. The gene contains two exons and spans about 5 kb of DNA. The N-terminal portion of the HOX4E activation domain contains several consensus sequence elements also found in other mammalian AbdB family genes. Further downstream, however, HOX4E contains a novel 37-amino-acid stretch containing 30% acidic residues. Northern blot analysis of HOX4E expression in adult tissues showed a major human transcript of 1.8 kb, the expression of which was largely limited to tissues of the male and female urogenital tracts. Expression was particularly strong in the uterus. This suggests that aside from its effects during embryogenesis, the HOX4E gene may play a continuing role in adult genitourinary tract function.
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Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Williams
A J
AJ
Patterson
P
P
Collins
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D009928:Organ Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C489576:Hoxd8 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; C075279:HOXD8 protein, human; D004247:DNA