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A Core Response to the CDX2 Homeoprotein During Development and in Pathologies
Victor Gourain1, Isabelle Duluc2, Claire Domon-Dell2
1Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Frontiers in Genetics
|November 11, 2021
Summary
The study identified a core set of genes regulated by the CDX2 homeobox gene during mouse embryonic development. These findings are relevant to human diseases, showing altered expression in cancers.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The transcription factor CDX2 is crucial for embryonic development and adult diseases.
- Understanding conserved gene functions across different cellular contexts is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the CDX2 homeobox gene, involved in various functions, shares a core set of molecular activities.
- To identify common genes and chromosomal regions targeted by CDX2 during distinct developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Integration of RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIPseq) data from mouse embryogenesis.
- Validation using transgenic mouse models with altered CDX2 function.
- Analysis of human cancer datasets for orthologous gene expression.
Main Results:
- A core set of CDX2-responsive genes was identified during trophectoderm formation, posterior body elongation, and intestinal specification.
- Common chromosomal regions targeted by CDX2 were found across these developmental steps.
- A significant overlap was observed between mouse CDX2-responsive genes and human genes with altered expression in malignancies.
Conclusions:
- CDX2 homeoprotein orchestrates a conserved transcriptional program during key embryonic developmental events.
- The identified CDX2-regulated gene network is relevant to human cancers, indicating conserved roles in disease.
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