title: Sequence, genomic organization, and expression of the novel homeobox gene Hesx1.
abstract: Extensive analyses of homeobox gene expression and function during murine embryogenesis have demonstrated that homeobox gene products are key components in the establishment of pattern formation and regional identity during development. In this paper we report the molecular characterization and expression of a novel murine homeobox sequence, Hesx1, isolated from pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Hesx1 is expressed as two transcripts of 1.0 and 1.2 kilobases which encode an identical 185 amino acid open reading frame. The transcripts differ in the 3'-untranslated region due to the differential utilization of a weak splice donor site located immediately downstream of the translation termination codon. The Hesx1 homeodomain shared 80% identity with the Xenopus homeoprotein XANF-1 and was less than 50% related to other homeodomain sequences. Hesx1 and XANF-1 therefore constitute the founder members of a new homeodomain class. Hesx1 expression was down-regulated during embryonic stem cell differentiation and was detected in tissue-specific RNA samples derived from the embryonic liver, and at lower levels in viscera, amnion, and yolk sac. Expression in adult mice was not detected. These sites of expression are consistent with a role for Hesx1 in the regulation of developmental decisions in the early mouse embryo and during fetal hematopoiesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: P Q
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rathjen
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Rathjen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005091:Exons; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; C489736:HESX1 protein, human; C489734:Hes1 protein, mouse; C489733:Hesx1 protein, mouse