PUBLICATION

Distal-less-related homeobox genes of vertebrates: evolution, function, and regulation

Authors
Zerucha, T. and Ekker, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-010815-9
Date
2000
Source
Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire   78(5): 593-601 (Review)
Registered Authors
Ekker, Marc, Zerucha, Ted
Keywords
genome, homeodomain, inner ear, olfactory placode, transcription, spatially restricted expression, developing forebrain, dlx genes, craniofacial development, zebrafish embryos, branchial arches, limb development, basal forebrain, mouse forebrain, mice lacking
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans/embryology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/ultrastructure
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Duplication
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genes
  • Genes, Helminth
  • Genes, Homeobox*
  • Genes, Insect
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins/physiology*
  • Mice
  • Species Specificity
  • Terminology as Topic
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Vertebrates/embryology
  • Vertebrates/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
PubMed
11103950 Full text @ Biochem. Cell Biol.
Abstract
Homeobox genes of the Distal-less family have been identified in virtually all metazoan groups where they play roles in the ontogeny of these animals. The vertebrate Distal-less related genes (Dlx genes) are thought to have arisen as a result of a tandem gene duplication event followed by a number of larger genomic scale duplications and thus represent an interesting model with which to study the evolution of clustered gene families. Dlx genes are involved in the development of the forebrain, branchial arches, sensory organs, and limbs. Here we describe the current state of knowledge of the Dlx genes in terms of their developmental expression, how this expression is regulated and how the products of these genes function, once expressed. We highlight a number of recent studies that have shed light on the transcriptional regulation of this gene family. These findings have not only contributed to our understanding of the selective pressures involved in the maintenance of familial gene clustering in genomes, but also to our understanding of how genes may diverge in function during the course of evolution as a result of divergence of regulatory mechanisms.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping