title: The role of gene duplication in the evolution and function of the vertebrate Dlx/distal-less bigene clusters.
abstract: The Dlx gene family controls developmental patterning principally in the pharyngeal and cranial regions. We review the structure and function of these genes in the vertebrates and relate these properties to their evolution. We particularly focus on the Dlx3-7 bigene cluster which we postulate to be more derived phylogenetically and functionally than the other two bigene clusters, Dlx1-2 and Dlx5-6. We stress the transcriptional control of the Dlx3-7 bigene cluster, and postulate its control by Dlx1-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, PO Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumiyama
authors.forename: Steven Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Ruddle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C088334:Distal-less homeobox proteins; C104149:Dlx4 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors