More than patterning--Hox genes and the control of posterior axial elongation.
Hox genes are well known for their evolutionarily conserved role in patterning the body axis. Now, Young et al. in this issue of Developmental Cell present evidence that at least in mouse embryos Hox genes do more, namely controlling the process of axis formation itself.
Aulehla
Alexander
A
EMBL, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. aulehla@embl.de
Pourquie
Olivier
O
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; C487514:Cdx2 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors