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MicroRNAs in the Hox network: an apparent link to posterior prevalence

Soraya Yekta1, Clifford J Tabin, David P Bartel

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|September 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Homeobox (Hox) microRNAs (miRNAs) within Hox gene clusters target Hox messenger RNAs (mRNAs). This regulation reinforces the dominance of posterior gene expression over anterior expression in vertebrate embryos.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Homeobox (Hox) transcription factors establish anterior-posterior (AP) axial patterning in vertebrate embryos.
  • Hox genes are organized in clusters, some of which contain microRNA (miRNA) genes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulatory role of Hox cluster-embedded miRNAs on Hox gene expression.
  • To understand how these miRNAs contribute to the establishment of axial polarity in embryos.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of predicted miRNA targets within Hox gene clusters.
  • Examination of the positional relationship between Hox miRNA loci and their presumed target Hox mRNAs.

Main Results:

  • Hox cluster-embedded miRNAs were found to preferentially target Hox mRNAs.
  • Target Hox genes are predominantly located on the 3' side of the miRNA loci.
  • This suggests a mechanism for repressing anterior Hox gene programs.

Conclusions:

  • Hox miRNAs reinforce posterior prevalence, a key feature of bilaterian axial patterning.
  • miRNA-mediated regulation mirrors ancestral gene expression interactions within a stabilizing network.

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