Large scale transgenic and cluster deletion analysis of the HoxD complex separate an ancestral regulatory module from evolutionary innovations.
The ancestral role of the Hox gene family is specifying morphogenetic differences along the main body axis. In vertebrates, HoxD genes were also co-opted along with the emergence of novel structures such as limbs and genitalia. We propose that these functional recruitments relied on the appearance, or implementation, of regulatory sequences outside of the complex. Whereas transgenic human and murine HOXD clusters could function during axial patterning, in mice they were not expressed outside the trunk. Accordingly, deletion of the entire cluster abolished axial expression, whereas recently acquired regulatory controls were preserved.
Spitz
F
F
Department of Zoology and Animal Biology, University of Geneva, Sciences III, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Gonzalez
F
F
Peichel
C
C
Vogt
T F
TF
Duboule
D
D
Zákány
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010641:Phenotype; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C513184:HOXD13 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C084118:Hoxd13 protein, mouse; C484113:Hoxd3 protein, mouse; C489520:Hoxd4 protein, mouse; C489576:Hoxd8 protein, mouse; C490282:Hoxd9 protein, mouse; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C073547:HOXA4 protein, human; C072064:HOXD10 protein, human; C075279:HOXD8 protein, human