Homeobox containing genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

We designed a unique 36-mer oligonucleotide probe, based on the most highly conserved amino acid sequences of Antennapedia-like homeodomains and the codon bias of Caenorhabditis elegans. This probe was then used to isolate four classes of genes from a C. elegans genomic library. Sequencing reveals that we have isolated three new homeobox genes, designated ceh-1, ceh-9 and ceh-10. The fourth homeobox gene, ceh-11, has recently been described by Schaller et al (Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 2033-2036). The amino acid sequence of ceh-1 is 87% similar to the honeybee H40 homeodomain, 85% similar to the Drosophila NK-1 homeodomain and 82% similar to the chicken CHox3 homeodomain. The sequence ceh-10 appears to be a member of the paired class of homeodomains. The other two sequences, ceh-9 and ceh-11, remain unclassified. Three of the four sequences have at least one intron within the homeobox region. Transcripts of ceh-10 and ceh-11 are present in embryonic RNA but are greatly diminished in later developmental stages. Three of the four new genes have been placed on the C. elegans genomic map.