• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.231-238
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• 2011

During pregnancy, stress induces maternal glucocorticoid secretion, which in turn is known to affect structural malformation, retardation of growth, reduced birth weight of the fetus. As Hox genes are master transcription factors which fulfill critical roles in embryonic development, we aimed to explore the possibility that alterations of the Hox gene expression might be involved in stress-induced malformation. The pregnant mice were injected with dexamethasone at a dose of 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg on day 7.5, 8.5 and 9.5 p.c. (post coitum), as well as saline as control. Embryos of E11.5 and E18.5 were obtained by sacrificing pregnant animals. Weight and crown-rump length (CRL) were measured. RT-PCR was performed to examine the Hox gene expression levels. Embryos given dexamethasone at day 7.5~9.5 p.c. had small CRL and weighed less both in E11.5 and E18.5. The percentage of embryos showing abnormalities was high in groups received high dose of dexamethasone. To define the molecular basis for abnormal embryonic development, we analyzed the Hox gene expression pattern and found that many Hox genes display altered expression. Effects of prenatal dexamethasone treatment on embryonic development might be associated with the aberrant Hox gene expression.

• 한국토양동물학회지
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• 제8권1_2호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2003

Hox genes are pivotal in the control of morphogenesis along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis in various bilaterians. Several indications suggest their involvement in the control of cell growth and regeneration. For the labial full-length fragment, RACE-PCR was employed to obtain the 3' and 5' franking regions. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the labial expression began to increase at 12 hours after amputation. The peak expression was approximately 1.5-fold more than the unamputated controls. This result could give us information on the significance of Hox genes and the relationships between Hox genes during regeneration.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Liver is an organ having an ability to regenerate by itself when it is damaged or removed. Since the research on the liver regeneration so far was regarding on the cellular multiplications not the formation of the shape, we intended to analyze the expression pattern of Hox genes during liver regeneration. RNA samples isolated from liver at the time of partial hepatectomy, 4 hours as well as 3 days later following regeneration were used to perform RT-PCR with Hox-specific degenerate primers. The PCR products were cloned, sequenced and analyzed through BLAST program. Genes belonging to the AbdB type Hox genes (paralogous groups IX-XIII) expressed predominantly during regeneration, while the other group (I-VII), especially Hoxal and bl seemed to be expressed continuously before and after regeneration. These data altogether imply that paralogous group IX and X genes including Hoxa10 and d10 seemed to be regeneration specific genes of liver.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.703-708
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• 2015

Hox 유전자는 호메오도메인을 포함한 전사인자로써, 발생 과정 중 전후축을 따라 몸의 형태 형성을 조절하는 역할을 한다. 레티노산(RA)은 발생 과정에서 필수적인 형태형성인자이며 세포의 특성을 결정하는데 중요한 조절자이다. 특히, RA는 생쥐나 인간으로부터 만들어진 배아암종(EC)세포에서 Hox 유전자의 발현을 조절한다고 밝혀져 있다. 또한 RA에 의한 세포 분화와 유전자 조절 과정에 히스톤 변이가 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 보고되어 있다. 히스톤 변이가 RA에 의해 유도되는 Hox 유전자의 발현에 특이적인 역할을 할 것으로 유추되기 때문에, 이 연구의 목적은 F9 생쥐배아 기형암종세포에서 RA에 의해 유도되는 Hoxc 유전자의 순차적인 발현이 히스톤 변이에 의해 일어나는 것인지를 조사하는 것이다. Hox 유전자의 발현 양상과 히스톤 변이는 semi-quantitative RT-PCR, RNA-sequencing과 chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP)-PCR 기법을 이용하여 관찰하였다. RA 처리 후(0일(D0), 1일(D1), 3일(D3)), Hoxc4 유전자의 발현(D1)은 Hoxc5부터 –c10 유전자(D3)보다 먼저 시작되었다. Hox가 발현하지 않는 D0 샘플은 전사 억제 마커인 H3K27me3이 모든 Hoxc 좌위에 강하게 표지 되어 있었으나 D1과 D3 샘플에서는 모든 좌위의 H3K27me3 표지가 확연히 줄어들어 있었다. 전사 발현 마커인 H3K4me3가 Hoxc 유전자의 순차적인 발현과 더 연관성이 있는 것으로 보이는데 D1에서 Hoxc4 발현과 함께 H3K4me3이 표지 되어 있었고, D3에서는 Hoxc 유전자 발현과 함께 모든 좌위에서 H3K4me3 마커가 존재했기 때문이다. 모든 결과를 종합해 보았을 때 F9 세포에서 RA에 의해 유도된 Hoxc 유전자의 순차적인 발현은 Hoxc 좌위에서 H3K27me3가 사라지고, H3K4me3가 표지 되는 히스톤 메틸화의 변이에 의해 결정되는 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.169-174
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• 2012

The placenta is an extraembryonic tissue that is formed between mother and fetus and mediates delivery of nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the fetus. Because of its essential role in sustaining the growth of the fetus during gestation, defects in its development and function frequently result in fetal growth retardation or intrauterine death, depending on its severity. Vertebrate Hox genes are well known transcription factors that are essential for the proper organization of the body plan during embryogenesis. However, certain Hox genes have been known to be expressed in placenta, implying that Hox genes not only play a crucial role during embryonic patterning but also play an important role in placental development. So far, there has been no report that shows the expression pattern of the whole Hox genes during placentation. In this study, therefore, we investigated the Hox gene expression pattern in mouse placenta, from day 10.5 to 18.5 of gestation using real-time RT-PCR method. In general, the 5' posterior Hox genes were expressed more in the developing placenta compared to the 3' Hox genes. Statistical analysis revealed that the expression of 15 Hox genes (Hoxa9, -a11, -a13/ -b8, -b9/ -c6, -c9, -c13/ -d1, -d3, -d8, -d9, -d10, -d11, -d12) were significantly changed in the course of gestation. The majority of these genes showed highest expression at gestational day 10.5, suggesting their possible role in the early stage during placental development.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.165-168
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• 2012

Hox proteins containing DNA-binding homedomain act as transcription factors important for anteroposterior body patterning during vertebrate embryogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms by which signal pathways are transduced to regulate the Hox gene expression are not clear. In the course of an attempt to isolate an upstream regulatory factor(s) controlling Hox genes, protein kinase B alpha (Akt1) has been identified as a putative regulator of Hox genes through in silico analysis (GEO profile). In the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GDS1784 at the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) site, Hox genes were differentially expressed depending on the presence or absence of Akt1. Since it was not well known how Akt1 regulates the specific Hox genes, whose transcription was reported to be regulated by epigenetic modifications such as histone acetylation, methylation etc., the expression of Gcn5, a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), was analyzed in wild type (WT) as well as in $Akt1^{-/-}$ mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the amount of Gcn5 mRNA was similar in both WT and $Akt1^{-/-}$ MEFs. However, the protein level of Gcn5 was significantly increased in $Akt1^{-/-}$ MEF cells. The half life of Gcn5 was 1 hour in wild type whereas 8 hours in $Akt1^{-/-}$ MEF. These data all together, indicate that Gcn5 is post-transcriptionally down-regulated and the protein stability is negatively regulated by Akt1 in MEF cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.500-506
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• 2005

HOX11 encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor which directs the development of the spleen during embryogenesis. While HOX11 expression is normally silenced through an unknown mechanism in all tissues by adulthood, the deregulation of HOX11 expression is associated with leukemia, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The elucidation of regulatory elements contributing to the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of HOX11 gene expression is of great importance. Previous reports of HOX11 regulatory elements mainly focused on the 5'-flanking region of HOX11 on the chromosome related to transcriptional control. To expand the search of putative cis-elements involved in HOX11 regulation at the post-transcriptional level, we analyzed HOX11 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) and found an AU-rich region. To characterize this AU-rich region, in vitro analysis of HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR was performed with human RNA-binding protein HuR, which interacts with AU-rich element (ARE) existing in the 3'UTR of many growth factors' and cytokines' mRNAs. Our results showed that the HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR can specifically bind with human HuR protein in vitro. This specific binding could be competed effectively by typical ARE containing RNA. After the deletion of the AU-rich region present in the HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR, the interaction of HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR with HuR protein was abolished. These findings suggest that HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR contains cis-acting element which shares similarity in the action pattern with RE-HuR interactions and may involve in the post-transcriptional regulation of the HOX11 gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.556-561
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• 2006

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.

• 한국토양동물학회지
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• 제7권1_2호
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• pp.29-34
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• 2002

Hox genes are a family of regulatory gene encoding transcription factor that primarily play a crucial role during development. Several indications suggest their involvement in the control of cell growth and regenration. RT-PCR and souther blot analysis revealed that labial-like gene was increasingly expressed along a spatial gradient in the anterior region of intact worm. During head and tail regeneration, labial-like gene was expressed only in the head region of regenerating body pieces, suggesting that the gene is involved in the anteroposterior patterning in earth-worm. This result could give us information on the significance of Hox genes and the relationship between Hox genes during regeneration.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.653-658
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• 2016

This investigation aimed to evaluate the differential expression of HoxB7 and notch genes in different developmental stages of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. The expression of HoxB7 gene was observed at all developmental stages. Nevertheless, significant fold differences in the expression level was documented in the juvenile worm with 3 or more proglottids, the germinal layer from infected sheep, and the adult worm from an experimentally infected dog. The notch gene was expressed at all developmental stages of E. granulosus; however, the fold difference was significantly increased at the microcysts in monophasic culture medium and the germinal layer of infected sheep in comparison with other stages. The findings demonstrated that the 2 aforementioned genes evaluated in the present study were differentially expressed at different developmental stages of the parasite and may contribute to some important biological processes of E. granulosus.