Hox genes encode evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that are essential for the proper development of bilaterian organisms. Hox genes are unique because they are spatially and temporally regulated during development in a manner that is dictated by their tightly linked genomic organization. Although their genetic function during embryonic development has been interrogated, less is known about how these transcription factors regulate downstream genes to direct morphogenetic events. Moreover, the continued expression and function of Hox genes at postnatal and adult stages highlights crucial roles for these genes throughout the life of an organism. Here, we provide an overview of Hox genes, highlighting their evolutionary history, their unique genomic organization and how this impacts the regulation of their expression, what is known about their protein structure, and their deployment in development and beyond.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/dev.192476 | DOI Listing |
Dev Cell
January 2025
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing 100191, China; State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address:
Cleavage-stage arrest in human embryos substantially limits the success rate of infertility treatment, with maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) abnormalities being a potential contributor. However, the underlying mechanisms and regulators remain unclear. Here, by performing allelic transcriptome analysis on human preimplantation embryos, we accurately quantified MZT progression by allelic ratio and identified a fraction of 8-cell embryos, at the appropriate developmental time point and exhibiting normal morphology, were in transcriptionally arrested status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHortic Res
January 2025
Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China, 100193.
Appropriate root system architecture (RSA) can improve alfalfa yield, yet its genetic basis remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated six RSA traits in 171 alfalfa genotypes grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. We also analyzed five yield-related traits in normal and drought stress environments and found a significant correlation (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma has conventionally been believed to lack lymphatic vasculature, likely due to a non-permissive microenvironment that hinders the formation and growth of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). Recent findings of ectopic expression of LEC markers including Prospero Homeobox 1 (PROX1), a master regulator of lymphatic differentiation, and the vascular permeability marker Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein (PLVAP), in certain glioblastoma and brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), has prompted investigation into their roles in cerebrovascular malformations, tumor environments, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) abnormalities. To explore the relationship between ectopic LEC properties and BBB disruption, we utilized endothelial cell-specific overexpression mutants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Gen Med
January 2025
Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital (Inner Mongolia Campus) & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010020, People's Republic of China.
Background: Gene methylation in cells is an important factor in tumorigenesis, and radiotherapy can change DNA methylation in cells. In this study, complete genome methylation sequencing (BS-Seq) technology was used to analyze the genome-wide methylation of patients with cervical cancer before and after radiotherapy.
Methods: Three pairs of cervical squamous cell carcinoma samples were collected from patients before and after radiotherapy in July 2020.
J Immunother Cancer
January 2025
Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
Background: B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)-mutant microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) constitutes a distinct CRC subgroup, traditionally perceived as minimally responsive to standard therapies. Recent clinical attempts, such as BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) monotherapy and combining BRAFi with other inhibitors, have yielded unsatisfactory efficacy. This study aims to identify a novel therapeutic strategy for this challenging subgroup.
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