title: Analysis of the Hoxd-3 gene: structure and localization of its sense and natural antisense transcripts.
abstract: This study set out to investigate the structure and localized expression of the mouse homeobox-containing gene Hoxd-3. In addition to identifying a transcript of the type known from other Antennapedia (Antp)-like mammalian homeobox cDNAs, an antisense transcript was also detected. The antisense form of Hoxd-3 overlaps with 603 bp of the sense transcript including the homeobox. Active antisense transcription has been confirmed by RNA blot analysis with single-stranded probes and by the direction of splicing of an intron in the antisense transcript. The localized expression of sense and antisense transcripts was compared by in situ hybridization. Hoxd-3 expression was observed from 8.5 days p.c., in the neural tube with a sharp border in the hind brain at the level of rhombomeres 4-5. In contrast, the earliest antisense expression was detected at 10.5 days p.c. in cDNA libraries. At 12.5 days p.c., sense and antisense transcripts colocalized in the liver. The possible role of antisense homeobox transcripts during liver and the hematopoietic development is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedford
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orr-Urtreger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lonai
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C484113:Hoxd3 protein, mouse; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA