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Other Comments:
A very recent experiment (D. Noordermeer et al. Science 334, 222-225 (2011) could be included.
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Competing interests:
No
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
Yes
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References:
S. Papageorgiou, Devel. Growth & differ. 53:1-8 (2011) and as above -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
Papageorgiou, S. A physical force may expose Hox genes to express in a morphogenetic density gradient. Bull. Math. Biol. 2001, 63, 185-200.
Papageorgiou, S. A cluster translocation model may explain the collinearity of Hox gene expressions. BioEssays 2004, 26, 189-195.
Papageorgiou, S. Pulling forces acting on Hox gene clusters cause expression collinearity. Int. J. Dev. Biol. 2006, 50, 301-308.
Papageorgiou, S. A biophysical mechanism may control the collinearity of Hoxd genes during the early phase of limb development. Hum. Genomics 2009, 3, 275-280.
Papageorgiou, S. Physical forces may cause Hox gene collinearity in the primary and secondary axes of the developing vertebrates. Develop. Growth & Differ. 2011, 53, 1-8.
- How to cite: Papageorgiou S .Review of an article[Review of the article 'Hox Homeotic Selector Genes: Key Regulators of Embryogenesis ' by Durston A].WebmedCentral 2012;3(2):WMCRW001460
Review of the manuscript ‘Hox Homeotic Selector Genes: Key Regulators of Embryogenesis’ by Antony J. Durston.
Hox genes play a crucial role in both development and evolution of most animal species. A fundamental property of these genes is their enigmatic collinearity. In this article, the author reviews the different hypotheses proposed to explain how Hox gene collinearity is set up. This phenomenon has attracted the interest of numerous scientist from different disciplines since the time it was first discovered by E.B. Lewis in 1978.
One mechanism is based on evolutionary studies mainly of Drosophila and the Vertebrates. According to the evidence from Drosophila the collinear Hox complexes arose by tandem duplication of an ancestral ur-Hox gene.
Alternatively, from the mouse data the idea was put forward that temporal collinearity is the result of a progressive ‘opening’ of the Hox cluster chromatin in the 3’ to 5’ direction. This opening is associated with a step by step dislocation of the Hox genes from a domain where the cluster is inactive to a separate spatial configuration where the genes are activated (Noordermeer et al. Science 334, 222-225 (2011)).
Finally, a third explanation is proposed which incorporates significant evidence from the work of the author and his collaborators. According to this explanation Hox collinearity is the result of interactions between the Hox genes themselves. Among these interactions posterior prevalence is included according to which more posterior genes dominate over more anterior genes. One can think of quantitative collinearity as being a first step in the process of posterior prevalence.
Convincing evidence is presented from the Xenopus gastrula data indicating that trans-acting factors coordinate the sequential 3’ to 5’ Hox activation. It seems that the temporal collinearity of the different Hox complexes is synchronized. This important finding should be further studied and the transacting signals analysed. The author and his team are systematically working on this project.
For 6. I propose the experiment of Daan Noordermeeret al, Science 2011 334: 222-225, to be included
No
No
Yes
Papageorgiou, S. A physical force may expose Hox genes to express in a morphogenetic density gradient. Bull. Math. Biol. 2001, 63, 185-200. Papageorgiou, S. A cluster translocation model may explain the collinearity of Hox gene expressions. BioEssays 2004, 26, 189-195. Papageorgiou, S. Pulling forces acting on Hox gene clusters cause expression collinearity. Int. J. Dev. Biol. 2006, 50, 301-308. Papageorgiou, S. A biophysical mechanism may control the collinearity of Hoxd genes during the early phase of limb development. Hum. Genomics 2009, 3, 275-280. Papageorgiou, S. Physical forces may cause Hox gene collinearity in the primary and secondary axes of the developing vertebrates. Develop. Growth & Differ. 2011, 53, 1-8.
As seen in the publications below:
Papageorgiou, S. A physical force may expose Hox genes to express in a morphogenetic density gradient. Bull. Math. Biol. 2001, 63, 185-200.
Papageorgiou, S. A cluster translocation model may explain the collinearity of Hox gene expressions. BioEssays 2004, 26, 189-195.
Papageorgiou, S. Pulling forces acting on Hox gene clusters cause expression collinearity. Int. J. Dev. Biol. 2006, 50, 301-308.
Papageorgiou, S. A biophysical mechanism may control the collinearity of Hoxd genes during the early phase of limb development. Hum. Genomics 2009, 3, 275-280.
Papageorgiou, S. Physical forces may cause Hox gene collinearity in the primary and secondary axes of the developing vertebrates. Develop. Growth & Differ. 2011, 53, 1-8.