title: Structural and functional characterization of the mouse Hlx homeobox gene.
abstract: Hlx is a mesenchymally expressed homeobox transcription factor gene that is essential for normal intestinal and hepatic development in the mouse. Here we report further characterization of the mouse Hlx gene, including an additional 3.7 kb of 5' sequence as well as the sequence of the three introns. Comparison of the sequence of the mouse Hlx gene 5' to the coding region with that of the human gene revealed multiple regions of high conservation. Neither the mouse nor the human gene contained a TATA box, and ribonuclease protection studies defined heterogeneous transcription start sites for the mouse gene. A number of consensus transcription factor binding sites were conserved between the mouse and human Hlx genes both within and outside of the highly conserved regions. Reporter constructs containing 4.2 or 1.4 kb of mouse 5' sequence showed active expression in cell lines that express Hlx. Further characterization of the mouse Hlx gene will provide insight into the developmental regulation of the mouse digestive system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. batem1@chmcc.org
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Schatzman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lints
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hamlin
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D016678:Genome; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C084058:HLX protein, human; C489999:Hlx protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D012260:Ribonucleases