Genetic interactions and dosage effects of Polycomb group genes in mice.
In Drosophila and mouse, Polycomb group genes are involved in the maintenance of homeotic gene expression patterns throughout development. Here we report the skeletal phenotypes of compound mutants for two Polycomb group genes bmi1 and M33. We show that mice deficient for both bmi1 and M33 present stronger homeotic transformations of the axial skeleton as compared to each single Polycomb group mutant, indicating strong dosage interactions between those two genes. These skeletal transformations are accompanied with an enhanced shift of the anterior limit of expression of several Hox genes in the somitic mesoderm. Our results demonstrate that in mice the Polycomb group genes act in synergy to control the nested expression pattern of some Hox genes in somitic mesodermal tissues during development.
Centre d'immunologie INSERM-CNRS de Marseille Luminy, Case 906, France.
S
S
Bel
N
N
Coré
M
M
Djabali
K
K
Kieboom
N
N
Van der Lugt
M J
MJ
Alkema
M
M
Van Lohuizen
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D018628:Gene Dosage; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009154:Mutation; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
C570426:Cbx2 protein, mouse; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1