title: Developmental Patterning as a Quantitative Trait: Genetic Modulation of the Hoxb6 Mutant Skeletal Phenotype.
abstract: The process of patterning along the anterior-posterior axis in vertebrates is highly conserved. The function of Hox genes in the axis patterning process is particularly well documented for bone development in the vertebral column and the limbs. We here show that Hoxb6, in skeletal elements at the cervico-thoracic junction, controls multiple independent aspects of skeletal pattern, implicating discrete developmental pathways as substrates for this transcription factor. In addition, we demonstrate that Hoxb6 function is subject to modulation by genetic factors. These results establish Hox-controlled skeletal pattern as a quantitative trait modulated by gene-gene interactions, and provide evidence that distinct modifiers influence the function of conserved developmental genes in fundamental patterning processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Pennington Biomedical Research Center/Louisiana State University System, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, United States of America.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kappen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000235:genetics*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012272:Ribs / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C490537:Hoxb6 protein, mouse