Homeobox genes and connective tissue patterning.
In vertebrates, limb tendons are derived from cells that migrate from the lateral plate mesoderm during early development. While some of the developmental steps leading to the formation of these tissues are known, little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling them. We have identified two murine homeobox-containing genes, Six 1 and Six 2, which are expressed in a complementary fashion during the development of limb tendons. Transcripts for both genes are found in different sets of phalangeal tendons. Six 1 and Six 2 also are expressed in skeletal and smooth muscle, respectively. These genes may participate in the patterning of the distal tendons of the limb phalanges by setting positional values along the limb axes.
Oliver
G
G
Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
Wehr
R
R
Jenkins
N A
NA
Copeland
N G
NG
Cheyette
B N
BN
Hartenstein
V
V
Zipursky
S L
SL
Gruss
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000196:embryology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008022:Ligaments / Q000196:embryology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000196:embryology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000196:embryology; D013710:Tendons / Q000196:embryology