Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.

The homeobox genes comprise a large gene superfamily characterised by a conserved DNA motif encoding the homeodomain. Most homeodomain proteins function as transcription factors, and many have important roles in embryonic development and cell differentiation. Here we describe, annotate and name four...

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Main Authors: Booth, H, Holland, P
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2007
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author Booth, H
Holland, P
author_facet Booth, H
Holland, P
author_sort Booth, H
collection OXFORD
description The homeobox genes comprise a large gene superfamily characterised by a conserved DNA motif encoding the homeodomain. Most homeodomain proteins function as transcription factors, and many have important roles in embryonic development and cell differentiation. Here we describe, annotate and name four novel homeobox genes in the human genome: ARGFX, DPRX, TPRX1 and DUXA. Each has generated multiple retrotransposed (processed) pseudogenes; these are reliable indicators of germ-line expression because only in germ-line cells can retrotransposition result in inheritance to the next generation. The retrotransposed sequences were exploited here as a novel means to deduce exon-intron boundaries. All four novel genes show accelerated rates of protein sequence evolution. This fast rate of sequence change may be connected with roles in human reproductive biology. Deducing the evolutionary origins of these genes is not straightforward, but we propose that TPRX1, DPRX and DUXA are highly divergent derivatives of the CRX gene, itself a member of the Otx homeobox gene family.
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spelling oxford-uuid:a9e46430-51b7-4fdf-8f48-f1891f39d1692022-03-27T03:11:27ZAnnotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:a9e46430-51b7-4fdf-8f48-f1891f39d169EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2007Booth, HHolland, PThe homeobox genes comprise a large gene superfamily characterised by a conserved DNA motif encoding the homeodomain. Most homeodomain proteins function as transcription factors, and many have important roles in embryonic development and cell differentiation. Here we describe, annotate and name four novel homeobox genes in the human genome: ARGFX, DPRX, TPRX1 and DUXA. Each has generated multiple retrotransposed (processed) pseudogenes; these are reliable indicators of germ-line expression because only in germ-line cells can retrotransposition result in inheritance to the next generation. The retrotransposed sequences were exploited here as a novel means to deduce exon-intron boundaries. All four novel genes show accelerated rates of protein sequence evolution. This fast rate of sequence change may be connected with roles in human reproductive biology. Deducing the evolutionary origins of these genes is not straightforward, but we propose that TPRX1, DPRX and DUXA are highly divergent derivatives of the CRX gene, itself a member of the Otx homeobox gene family.
spellingShingle Booth, H
Holland, P
Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.
title Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.
title_full Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.
title_fullStr Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.
title_full_unstemmed Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.
title_short Annotation, nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line.
title_sort annotation nomenclature and evolution of four novel homeobox genes expressed in the human germ line
work_keys_str_mv AT boothh annotationnomenclatureandevolutionoffournovelhomeoboxgenesexpressedinthehumangermline
AT hollandp annotationnomenclatureandevolutionoffournovelhomeoboxgenesexpressedinthehumangermline