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 …

If you want to see an ensemble of great minds then “Workshop on HOX and TALE homeoproteins in Development and Disease” in Carmona (Seville) , should be the place for you from 27-30, May 2009 .This work shop is being conducted by Organizers Fernando Casares (CABD, Seville),Miguel Torres (CNIC, Madrid) and Moisés Mallo (IGC, Oeiras) includes some very popular names from the field of Hox . Robb Krumlauf, Richard mann ,Yacine Graba , Adi Salzberg and many other researchers will be presenting their work. ( For the entire list of …

How transcription factors achieve their in vivo specificities is a fundamental question in biology. Regulation of Distalless (dll) gene in insects served as an excellent model to study mechanisms of Hox genes and this is the topic of our classic paper today. Richard mann’s lab published some stunning stuff on role played by segmentation genes in regulation of distalless gene in 2004 Nature issue. This article is a real classic providing some finer details in repression of distalless in abdomen of insects. Ever since the first paper by Vachon et …