Biomaterial Database

Drosophila Hox complex downstream targets and the function of homeotic genes. 1997

Y Graba, and D Aragnol, and J Pradel

Laboratoire de Génétique et de Biologie du Développement, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, CNRS Case 907, Marseille, France.

Hox complex genes are key developmental regulators highly conserved throughout evolution. The encoded proteins share a 60-amino-acid DNA-binding motif, the homeodomain, and function as transcription factors to control axial patterning. An important question concerns the nature and function of genes acting downstream of Hox proteins. This review focuses on Drosophila, as little is known about this question in other organisms. The noticeable progress gained in the field during the past few years has significantly improved our current understanding of how Hox genes control diversified morphogenesis. Here we summarise the strategies deployed to identify Hox target genes and discuss how their function contributes to pattern formation and morphogenesis. The regulation of target genes is also considered with special emphasis on the mechanisms underlying the specificity of action of Hox proteins in the whole animal.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009024	Morphogenesis	The development of anatomical structures to create the form of a single- or multi-cell organism. Morphogenesis provides form changes of a part, parts, or the whole organism.
D004330	Drosophila	A genus of small, two-winged flies containing approximately 900 described species. These organisms are the most extensively studied of all genera from the standpoint of genetics and cytology.	Fruit Fly, Drosophila,Drosophila Fruit Flies,Drosophila Fruit Fly,Drosophilas,Flies, Drosophila Fruit,Fly, Drosophila Fruit,Fruit Flies, Drosophila
D005801	Genes, Homeobox	Genes that encode highly conserved TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS that control positional identity of cells (BODY PATTERNING) and MORPHOGENESIS throughout development. Their sequences contain a 180 nucleotide sequence designated the homeobox, so called because mutations of these genes often results in homeotic transformations, in which one body structure replaces another. The proteins encoded by homeobox genes are called HOMEODOMAIN PROTEINS.	Genes, Homeotic,Homeobox Sequence,Homeotic Genes,Genes, Homeo Box,Homeo Box,Homeo Box Sequence,Homeo Boxes,Homeobox,Homeoboxes,Hox Genes,Sequence, Homeo Box,Gene, Homeo Box,Gene, Homeobox,Gene, Homeotic,Gene, Hox,Genes, Hox,Homeo Box Gene,Homeo Box Genes,Homeo Box Sequences,Homeobox Gene,Homeobox Genes,Homeobox Sequences,Homeotic Gene,Hox Gene,Sequence, Homeobox,Sequences, Homeo Box,Sequences, Homeobox
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017344	Genes, Insect	The functional hereditary units of INSECTS.	Insect Genes,Gene, Insect,Insect Gene
D018398	Homeodomain Proteins	Proteins encoded by homeobox genes (GENES, HOMEOBOX) that exhibit structural similarity to certain prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA-binding proteins. Homeodomain proteins are involved in the control of gene expression during morphogenesis and development (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION, DEVELOPMENTAL).	Homeo Domain Protein,Homeobox Protein,Homeobox Proteins,Homeodomain Protein,Homeoprotein,Homeoproteins,Homeotic Protein,Homeo Domain Proteins,Homeotic Proteins,Domain Protein, Homeo,Protein, Homeo Domain,Protein, Homeobox,Protein, Homeodomain,Protein, Homeotic,Proteins, Homeo Domain,Proteins, Homeobox,Proteins, Homeodomain,Proteins, Homeotic
D018507	Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action during the developmental stages of an organism.	Developmental Gene Expression Regulation,Embryologic Gene Expression Regulation,Gene Expression Regulation, Embryologic,Regulation of Gene Expression, Developmental,Regulation of Gene Expression, Embryologic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Developmental,Regulation, Gene Expression, Embryologic