Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Comparison of Expression Profiles of HOX Gene Family in Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Selected Human Fetal Tissues

  • Hwang Jung-Hye (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Kim Kye-Seong (Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Kim Byung-Ju (Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ulsan University) ;
  • Kwon Hee-Sun (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Lee Man-Ryoul (Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Park Moon-Il (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Jang Se-Jin (Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ulsan University)
  • Published : 2006.04.01
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Abstract

The HOX genes coding homeodomain proteins have been suggested as a candidate molecular switch that determines the fates of cells during embryonic development and patterning. It is believed that a set of differentiation-specific HOX genes enter into a turn-on state during tissue differentiation, in contrast to stem cell-specific HOX genes that enter into a turn-off state. However, comprehensive data of expression profiles of HOX genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and differentiated embryonic tissues are not available. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of all 39 HOX genes in hESC and human fetal tissues and analyzed the relationships between hESC and each tissue. Of the 39 genes, 18 HOX genes were expressed in stem cells, and diverse expression patterning was observed in human fetal tissues when compared with stem cells. These results indicate that HOX genes could be main targets for switching of stem cell differentiation into tissues.

Keywords

References

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