title: The Hoxa2 enhancer 2 contains a critical Hoxa2 responsive regulatory element.
abstract: Rhombomeres are embryonic territories arising from the transient segmentation of the hindbrain. Their identity is specified by Hox genes from paralogous groups 1-4. Hoxa2 is the only Hox gene to be expressed in the second rhombomere and the regulatory cues leading to this region-specific expression have been poorly investigated. A 2.5-kb DNA fragment overlapping with the 3' end of Hoxa2 was previously shown to specifically direct the expression of a reporter gene in the second rhombomere and the rostral somites of mouse embryos. Here, we report that this enhancer region is activated in vitro by Hoxa2 and that this activation is strictly dependent on a short 10-bp sequence matching the consensus for Hox-Pbx recognition sites.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Developmental Genetics, Université catholique de Louvain, 73 (boîte 82) avenue Mounier, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: Jacques J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezsohazy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements; D013045:Species Specificity; D014162:Transfection; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C489832:HOXA3 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C489833:Hoxa2 protein, mouse; C080331:Hoxa3 protein, mouse; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C489831:hoxa2b protein, zebrafish; D008156:Luciferases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase