title: MHox and vertebrate skeletogenesis: the long and the short of it.
abstract: The development of the vertebrate skeleton is under complex genetic control, and good progress is being made towards identifying the genes responsible. A recent paper contributes to this progress by describing transgenic mice in which the homeobox-containing MHox gene has been disrupted. MHox(-/-) mice have a range of skeletal defects, involving loss or shortening of structures in the skull, face and limb. Puzzling features of the MHox(-/-) mutation, which has similar effects on bones with very different embryological origins and yet spares other bones completely, may hold clues to the mechanisms that shape the skeleton. MHox(-/-) mice, used in conjunction with other skeletal mutants, will be important tools for exploring these mechanisms further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Brickell
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D055428:Growth Differentiation Factor 5; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D012863:Skeleton; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C525894:Gdf5 protein, mouse; D055428:Growth Differentiation Factor 5; D006133:Growth Substances; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C489936:Prrx1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors