{"title":"Identification of a Chondrocyte-Specific Enhancer in the Hoxc8 Gene","authors":"S. Cormier, C. Kappen","doi":"10.3390/jdb12010005","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Hox genes encode transcription factors whose roles in patterning animal body plans during embryonic development are well-documented. Multiple studies demonstrate that Hox genes continue to act in adult cells, in normal differentiation, in regenerative processes, and, with abnormal expression, in diverse types of cancers. However, surprisingly little is known about the regulatory mechanisms that govern Hox gene expression in specific cell types, as they differentiate during late embryonic development, and in the adult organism. The murine Hoxc8 gene determines the identity of multiple skeletal elements in the lower thoracic and lumbar region and continues to play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of cells in cartilage as the skeleton matures. This study was undertaken to identify regulatory elements in the Hoxc8 gene that control transcriptional activity, specifically in cartilage-producing chondrocytes. We report that an enhancer comprising two 416 and 224 bps long interacting DNA elements produces reporter gene activity when assayed on a heterologous transcriptional promoter in transgenic mice. This enhancer is distinct in spatial, temporal, and molecular regulation from previously identified regulatory sequences in the Hoxc8 gene that control its expression in early development. The identification of a tissue-specific Hox gene regulatory element now allows mechanistic investigations into Hox transcription factor expression and function in differentiating cell types and adult tissues and to specifically target these cells during repair processes and regeneration.","PeriodicalId":15563,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Developmental Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Developmental Biology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb12010005","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Hox genes encode transcription factors whose roles in patterning animal body plans during embryonic development are well-documented. Multiple studies demonstrate that Hox genes continue to act in adult cells, in normal differentiation, in regenerative processes, and, with abnormal expression, in diverse types of cancers. However, surprisingly little is known about the regulatory mechanisms that govern Hox gene expression in specific cell types, as they differentiate during late embryonic development, and in the adult organism. The murine Hoxc8 gene determines the identity of multiple skeletal elements in the lower thoracic and lumbar region and continues to play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of cells in cartilage as the skeleton matures. This study was undertaken to identify regulatory elements in the Hoxc8 gene that control transcriptional activity, specifically in cartilage-producing chondrocytes. We report that an enhancer comprising two 416 and 224 bps long interacting DNA elements produces reporter gene activity when assayed on a heterologous transcriptional promoter in transgenic mice. This enhancer is distinct in spatial, temporal, and molecular regulation from previously identified regulatory sequences in the Hoxc8 gene that control its expression in early development. The identification of a tissue-specific Hox gene regulatory element now allows mechanistic investigations into Hox transcription factor expression and function in differentiating cell types and adult tissues and to specifically target these cells during repair processes and regeneration.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Developmental Biology (ISSN 2221-3759) is an international, peer-reviewed, quick-refereeing, open access journal, which publishes reviews, research papers and communications on the development of multicellular organisms at the molecule, cell, tissue, organ and whole organism levels. Our aim is to encourage researchers to effortlessly publish their new findings or concepts rapidly in an open access medium, overseen by their peers. There is no restriction on the length of the papers; the full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Electronic files regarding the full details of the experimental procedure, if unable to be published in a normal way, can be deposited as supplementary material. Journal of Developmental Biology focuses on: -Development mechanisms and genetics -Cell differentiation -Embryonal development -Tissue/organism growth -Metamorphosis and regeneration of the organisms. It involves many biological fields, such as Molecular biology, Genetics, Physiology, Cell biology, Anatomy, Embryology, Cancer research, Neurobiology, Immunology, Ecology, Evolutionary biology.