PUBLICATION
Hox cofactors in vertebrate development
- Authors
- Moens, C.B., and Selleri, L.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-080218-32
- Date
- 2006
- Source
- Developmental Biology 291(2): 193-206 (Review)
- Registered Authors
- Moens, Cecilia
- Keywords
- Pbx, Hox, Hox cofactors, Hexapeptide motif, Fly, Zebrafish, Mouse, Vertebrate development
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acid Motifs
- Animals
- Cell Proliferation
- DNA/metabolism
- DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology*
- Drosophila Proteins/physiology
- Embryonic Development*
- Homeodomain Proteins/physiology*
- Humans
- Neoplasm Proteins/physiology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/physiology
- Transcription Factors/physiology
- PubMed
- 16515781 Full text @ Dev. Biol.
Citation
Moens, C.B., and Selleri, L. (2006) Hox cofactors in vertebrate development. Developmental Biology. 291(2):193-206.
Abstract
Hox genes encode homeodomain-containing transcription factors that pattern the body axes of animal embryos. It is well established that the exquisite DNA-binding specificity that allows different Hox proteins to specify distinct structures along the body axis is frequently dependent on interactions with other DNA-binding proteins which act as Hox cofactors. These include the PBC and MEIS classes of TALE (Three Amino acid Loop Extension) homeodomain proteins. The PBC class comprises fly Extradenticle (Exd) and vertebrate Pbx homeoproteins, whereas the MEIS class includes fly Homothorax (Hth) and vertebrate Meis and Prep homeoproteins. Exd was first implicated as a Hox cofactor based on mutant phenotypes in the fly. In vertebrates, PBC and MEIS homeobox proteins play important roles in development and disease. In this review, we describe the evidence that these functions reflect a requirement for Pbx and Meis/Prep proteins as Hox cofactors. However, there is mounting evidence that, like in the fly, Pbx and Meis/Prep proteins function more broadly, and we also discuss how "Hox cofactors" function as partners for other, non-Hox transcription factors during development. Conversely, we review the evidence that Hox proteins have functions that are independent of Pbx and Meis/Prep cofactors and discuss the possibility that other proteins may participate in the DNA-bound Hox complex, contributing to DNA-binding specificity in the absence of, or in addition to, Pbx and Meis/Prep.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping