Homeobox genes in embryogenesis and pathogenesis.
The homeobox, a 60-amino acid-encoding DNA sequence, originally discovered in the genome of the fruit fly Drosophila, was subsequently identified throughout the three kingdoms of multicellular organisms. Homeobox-containing genes encode DNA-binding proteins that regulate gene expression and control various aspects of morphogenesis and cell differentiation. In particular, the Hox family of clustered homeobox genes plays a fundamental role in the morphogenesis of the vertebrate embryo, providing cells with regional information along the main body axis. The nonclustered or divergent homeobox genes include a large number of genes scattered throughout the genome that, nevertheless, can be organized in distinct families based on their homologies and functional similarities. This review will provide the reader with a brief overview on some recent studies aimed at understanding the functional role of homeobox genes in normal mammalian development as well as their involvement in congenital malformations and oncogenesis.
Mark
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Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP/Collège de France, Illkirch, France.
Rijli
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Chambon
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D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics