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Evolutionarily conserved developmental pathways

Subdivision of anterior-posterior axis by Homeobox cluster

In Drosophila, the eight Hox (Homeobox) cluster genes are arranged in two linkage groups, the Antennapedia complex and the bithorax complex. This contrasts with 38 genes in 4 linkage groups in humans. In both Drosophila and humans, homeobox clusters control the identity of cells along the anterior-posterior axis, including cells of ectodermal, mesodermal, endodermal and neural fates. Both Extradenticle and PBX proteins interact with Hox proteins to form heterotypic complexes that act to regulate expression of specific subordinate genes.

Drosophila
(proximal to distal)        Homologs in other species 
--------------------        -------------------------
Labial                      Xenopus: HoxA1, HoxD1
                            Mammalian: HoxD1, HoxB1, HoxA1
  
Proboscipedia               Mammalian: HoxB2, HoxA2, HoxB3, HoxA3, HoxD3 

Deformed                    Mammalian: HoxB4, HoxA4, HoxD4, HoxC4

Sex combs reduced           Mammalian: HoxC5, HoxB5, HoxA5

Antennapedia                Mammalian: HoxC8, HoxB8
                            Mammalian: HoxC6, HoxB6, HoxA6, HoxA7, HoxB7, 

Ultrabithorax               Mammalian: Same as Antennapedia

abdominal-A                 Mammalian: Same as Antennapedia 

Abdominal-B                 Mammalian: HoxC11, HoxA11, HoxD11
                            Mammalian: HoxA10, HoxC10, HoxD10
                            Mammalian: BoxB9, HoxA9, HoxD9, HoxC9 
                            Mammalian: HoxD13, HoxA13, HoxD12, HoxC12

Extradenticle               Human: PBX1, PBX2 and PBX3

REFERENCE

Duboule, D. (1994). Guidebook to Homeobox Genes. Oxford U. Press, New York. pp. 33-37

date revised: 13 Oct 96

Developmental Pathways conserved in Evolution

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