Embryonic timing, axial stem cells, chromatin dynamics, and the Hox clock

TY - JOUR

T1 - Embryonic timing, axial stem cells, chromatin dynamics, and the Hox clock

AU - Deschamps, Jacqueline

AU - Duboule, Denis

N1 - © 2017 Deschamps and Duboule; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

PY - 2017/7/15

Y1 - 2017/7/15

N2 - Collinear regulation of Hox genes in space and time has been an outstanding question ever since the initial work of Ed Lewis in 1978. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of this phenomenon in relation to novel concepts associated with large-scale regulation and chromatin structure during the development of both axial and limb patterns. We further discuss how this sequential transcriptional activation marks embryonic stem cell-like axial progenitors in mammals and, consequently, how a temporal genetic system is further translated into spatial coordinates via the fate of these progenitors. In this context, we argue the benefit and necessity of implementing this unique mechanism as well as the difficulty in evolving an alternative strategy to deliver this critical positional information.

AB - Collinear regulation of Hox genes in space and time has been an outstanding question ever since the initial work of Ed Lewis in 1978. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of this phenomenon in relation to novel concepts associated with large-scale regulation and chromatin structure during the development of both axial and limb patterns. We further discuss how this sequential transcriptional activation marks embryonic stem cell-like axial progenitors in mammals and, consequently, how a temporal genetic system is further translated into spatial coordinates via the fate of these progenitors. In this context, we argue the benefit and necessity of implementing this unique mechanism as well as the difficulty in evolving an alternative strategy to deliver this critical positional information.

KW - Animals

KW - Chromatin

KW - Embryonic Development

KW - Embryonic Stem Cells

KW - Evolution, Molecular

KW - Extremities

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental

KW - Genes, Homeobox

KW - Genomics

KW - Transcriptional Activation

KW - Vertebrates

KW - Journal Article

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1101/gad.303123.117

DO - 10.1101/gad.303123.117

M3 - Article

C2 - 28860158

SN - 0890-9369

VL - 31

SP - 1406

EP - 1416

JO - Genes and Development

JF - Genes and Development

IS - 14

ER -