Genome-Wide Characterization of the HOX Gene Family: Evolution and Expression Patterns in Donkey

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Developmental Biology
• Molecular Genetics

Background:

• The HOX gene family is vital for embryonic development, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis.
• Understanding HOX gene function is crucial for animal breeding and developmental studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and characterize the HOX gene family in the donkey genome.
• To investigate the physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, and expression patterns of donkey HOX genes.
• To provide insights into the genetic regulation of traits relevant to donkey molecular breeding.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatics approaches were used for systematic analysis of the donkey genome.
• Physicochemical properties, conserved motifs, phylogenetic clustering, collinearity, Gene Ontology, and tissue expression profiles were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 33 HOX gene family members were identified in the donkey genome.
• Donkey HOX proteins exhibited specific physicochemical properties, nuclear localization, and conserved motifs.
• Phylogenetic analysis revealed eight subgroups, and collinearity analysis showed high similarity with horse HOX genes.
• Gene Ontology analysis confirmed roles in embryonic development and skeletal formation, with distinct tissue expression patterns.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the donkey HOX gene family.
• The findings offer valuable insights into the genetic regulation of embryonic development and skeletal formation in donkeys.
• This research supports advancements in donkey molecular breeding by elucidating key genetic factors.