Mice with targeted disruptions in the paralogous genes hoxa-3 and hoxd-3 reveal synergistic interactions
- 28 July 1994
- journal article
- Published by Springer Nature in Nature
- Vol. 370 (6487) , 304-307
- https://doi.org/10.1038/370304a0
Abstract
The Hox genes encode transcription factors which mediate the formation of the mammalian body plan along the anteroposterior and appendicular axes. Paralogous Hox genes within the separate linkage groups are closely related with respect to DNA sequence and expression, suggesting that they could have at least partially redundant functions. We showed previously that mice homozygous for independent targeted disruptions in the paralogous genes hoxa-3 and hoxd-3 had no defects in common. But our current analysis of double mutants has revealed strong, dosage-dependent interactions between these genes. We report here that in hoxd-3- homozygotes the first cervical vertebra, the atlas, is homeotically transformed to the adjacent anterior structure. Unexpectedly, in double mutants, rather than observing a more extensive homeotic transformation, the entire atlas is deleted. These observations are interpreted in terms of a model in which these Hox genes differentially regulate the proliferation rates of the appropriate sets of precursor cells.Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Homeotic transformations and limb defects in Hox A11 mutant mice.Genes & Development, 1993
- Hoxa-2 mutant mice exhibit homeotic transformation of skeletal elements derived from cranial neural crestCell, 1993
- Specification of axial identity in the mouse: role of the Hoxa-5 (Hox1.3) gene.Genes & Development, 1993
- Disruption of the Hoxd-13 gene induces localized heterochrony leading to mice with neotenic limbsCell, 1993
- Loss of Hox-A1 (Hox-1.6) function results in the reorganization of the murine hindbrainDevelopment, 1993
- Hoxb-4 (Hox-2.6) mutant mice show homeotic transformation of a cervical vertebra and defects in the closure of the sternal rudimentsCell, 1993
- Homeosis in the mouse induced by a null mutation in the Hox-3.1 genePublished by Elsevier ,1992
- Developmental defects of the ear, cranial nerves and hindbrain resulting from targeted disruption of the mouse homeobox geneHox-#150;1.6Nature, 1992
- Disruption of the Hox-1.6 homeobox gene results in defects in a region corresponding to its rostral domain of expressionCell, 1991
- Regionally restricted developmental defects resulting from targeted disruption of the mouse homeobox gene hox-1.5Nature, 1991