First published online December 21, 2006
Development 134, 204e (2007)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Targeting Hox targets
Hox transcription factors have a well-documented role in morphogenesis
along the anteroposterior axis. They are expressed colinearly along the body
axis and regulate specific downstream targets via their conserved DNA-binding
homeodomain. But only a small number of their transcriptional target genes
have so far been identified. On
p. 381, Hueber et al.
report the identification of potentially hundreds of new Hox targets from a
microarray analysis designed to identify the targets of six
Drosophila Hox proteins. The authors validated many of these targets
by in situ hybridisations in different genetic backgrounds, and interestingly
reveal how most targets are regulated by a specific Hox protein. Many of the
identified genes have known functions in processes such as apoptosis, cell
migration and cell-cell adhesion. For example, skl, an apoptotic
activator, is identified as a target of the Hox protein Deformed (Dfd), and
has reduced expression in Dfd mutants, accompanied by reduced
apoptosis. Many targets encode transcription factors, such that Hox factors
appear to regulate morphogenesis indirectly.
Related articles in Development:
- Comparative analysis of Hox downstream genes in Drosophila
- Stefanie D. Hueber, Daniela Bezdan, Stefan R. Henz, Martina Blank, Haijia Wu, and Ingrid Lohmann
Development 2007 134: 381-392.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
