Bithorax complex in Drosophila consists of three homeodomain encoding proteins : Ultrabithorax (Ubx), abdominal-A (abd-A) and Abdominal-B (Abd-B). The function of these bithorax genes is to pattern entire abdomen ( A1-A9 segments ) and a part of third thoracic segment ,which happens to be their normal expression domain in embryos. These Hox proteins are expressed within specific parasegments (PS) , anatomical units that include the posterior portion of one segment and the anterior portion of the adjacent segment.
But the problem is that we have only three proteins and they need …

Our lab in Ibdml Marseille published a new review article on Hox protein function ,which is currently online and print issue will be released in may ( It also happens to be on the cover of May issue) This review is an effort to better understand molecular mechanism employed by Hox proteins while performing their biological functions. Here my colleagues looked into the sequences of Hox proteins from main evolutionary branches of bilateria, which includes lophotrochozoa (capitella) ,Ecdysozoa (Tribolium) and humans, amphioxus from Deuterostomia.

Today in the third and last part of “Top 15 articles on Hox function” series ( In case if you are new here ,the first two parts can be read here and here ),we see five outstanding articles related to Hox function. So here it goes:
11) Study by Passner et al determined the crystal structure of an Ultrabithorax-Extradenticle-DNA complex at 2.4A° resolution, using the minimal polypeptides that form a cooperative heterodimer. It was first of its kind, where crystal structure of proteins was determined on physiological target. The HD …

Spatial and temporal regulation of genes or gene network is essential for proper development of an embryo. Any change in the gene regulation will lead into phenotypic novelty, either due to the change in function of the concerned protein or loss / gain of function in particular tissue. So to understand evolution of development is vital to decipher the origin and evolution of gene regulation and regulatory networks. Mutations affecting gene regulation can be either at the cis –regulatory elements (place where regulatory proteins bind to activate or repress …

So moving further into the series of “Top 15 articles on Hox function” ( In case you missed, read part I here ).
6) This article in fact set the trend for many to follow and one of my all time favorite- Steve cohen lab’s showed for the very first time that Distalless (dll) is a direct hox target and repression of this gene by Hox is vital for abdominal specification in fly. Vachon et al. had identified a minimal cis-regulatory enhancer element that directs Dll expression in the larval …

Ever since the landmark Paper of Ed Lewis in Nature 1978 ,deciphering the Bithorax complex in Fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster ,a number of papers contributed significantly in our understanding hox gene function in Drosophila and other metazoans. Today we take a look at my Favourite 15 Hox articles ( mostly on Drosophila ) that helped understanding function of these master regulators.Remember this list doesn’t include articles related to regulation of Hox genes , but only about discovery and function of Hox genes.
1) No points for guessing correct,The list begins with …

Hox genes are expressed along the anterior-posterior (A/P) body axis in majority of animals , creating a unique A/P code which plays a pivotal role in segment specific morphogenesis. These homeodomain containing transcription factors are evolutionary conserved at the level of structure ,function and organization. This is best exemplified by their presence in clusters in all animals and provide A/P axial positional information during development.It was the discovery of homeobox in Drosophila and subsequent cloning in Xenopus revealed that the Hox genes that control the antero-posterior (A-P) axis were unexpectedly …