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Query: EC:3.2.1.23 (
beta-galactosidase
)
14,648
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
The mouse Hox-2.3 gene contains an Antp-like
homeobox
sequence and is expressed in a spatially restricted anteroposterior domain during development. To study the molecular basis of this differential gene regulation, we set out to characterize the cis-regulatory elements mediating Hox-2.3 expression during embryogenesis. We show that a fragment extending 1316 base pairs (bp) upstream of the transcription start site, thus corresponding to the Hox-2.4/Hox-2.3 intergenic sequences is capable of mediating luciferase gene transcription in transfected cells in vitro and lacZ expression in transgenic mice. The
beta-galactosidase
-staining pattern in embryos was found to be strikingly similar to the Hox-2.3 in situ hybridization pattern in intermediate mesoderm derivatives: high levels of both Hox-2.3 transcripts and
beta-galactosidase
activity were found in the mesonephric duct-derived epithelium of the meso- and metanephric kidney and associated ducts, from the time these structures first appeared on throughout development. The transgene apparently lacks sequences needed for correct Hox-2.3 expression in somitic and lateral plate mesoderm and in neurectoderm. These results document the involvement of distinct regulatory elements in Hox gene expression in subsets of cells with distinct developmental fate, situated at similar positions along the anteroposterior axis of the embryo.
...
PMID:Hox-2.3 upstream sequences mediate lacZ expression in intermediate mesoderm derivatives of transgenic mice. 197 73
The region-specific patterns of expression of mouse
homeobox
genes are considered important for establishing the embryonic body plan. A 5-kilobase (kb) DNA fragment from the Hox-3.1 locus that is sufficient to confer region-specific expression to a
beta-galactosidase
reporter gene in transgenic mouse embryos has been defined. The observed reporter gene expression pattern closely parallels endogenous Hox-3.1 expression in 8- to 9.5-day postcoitum (p.c.) embryos. At 10.5 days p.c. and later, the pattern of
beta-galactosidase
activity diverges from the Hox-3.1 pattern, and an inappropriately high level of reporter gene expression is observed in posterior spinal ganglia. Inclusion of an additional 2 kb of upstream sequences is sufficient to suppress this aberrant expression in the developing spinal ganglia. Together, these results show that the control of early Hox-3.1 expression is complex, involving at least one positively acting and one negatively acting element.
...
PMID:Evidence for positive and negative regulation of the Hox-3.1 gene. 197 25
The spatially restricted expression of mammalian
homeobox
genes in teh embryonic central nervous system (CNS) provides an opportunity to study the basis of spatial gene regulation in mammalian development. Here, we define a regulatory region of the murine Hox 1.3 gene that mediates such a region-specific expression pattern. The Hox 1.3 gene contains two exons, encodes a putative protein of 270 amino acids, and is expressed preferentially in the spinal cord at midgestation. We have analyzed transgenic mice containing various Hox 1.3 DNA fragments fused to reporter sequences, such as a human growth hormone gene fragment or the E. coli lacZ structural gene. As shown by RNAase protection assays or by in situ analyses of
beta-galactosidase
activity, several hybrid genes are expressed in the embryonic central nervous system in a spatially restricted manner, along both the rostrocaudal and dorsoventral axes. A 912 nucleotide sequence located immediately upstream of the Hox 1.3 coding sequence is sufficient to direct expression to the dorsolateral cells of the brachial spinal cord.
...
PMID:Spatial regulation of homeobox gene fusions in the embryonic central nervous system of transgenic mice. 290 48
The ability of the zeste moiety of
beta-galactosidase
-zeste fusion proteins synthesized in Escherichia coli to bind specific DNA sequences was examined. Such fusion proteins recognize a region of the white locus upstream of the start of transcription; this region has previously been shown to be required for genetic interaction between the zeste and white loci. Another strong binding site was localized to a region between 50 and 205 nucleotides before the start of the Ubx transcriptional unit; expression of the bithorax complex is also known to be influenced by the zeste locus. Weaker binding sites were also seen in the vicinity of the bxd and Sgs-4 genes, but it is currently unclear whether these binding sites play a role in transvection effects. The DNA-binding activity of the zeste protein is restricted to a domain of approximately 90 amino acids near the N terminus. This domain does not appear to contain
homeobox
or zinc finger motifs found in other DNA-binding proteins. The DNA-binding domain is not disrupted by any currently characterized zeste mutations.
...
PMID:DNA-binding properties of the Drosophila melanogaster zeste gene product. 312 90
The murine
homeobox
-containing gene Hoxa-7 is expressed in restricted patterns during embryogenesis and plays an important role in the control of region-specific differentiation. Previous studies have shown that separate elements specify lineage restriction and expression boundaries of Hoxa-7. In particular 3.6 kb of 5' flanking sequences were sufficient to establish an anterior boundary of Hoxa-7 gene expression. To identify the minimal regulatory element specifying the anterior boundary of expression, transgenic mice were generated carrying chimeric constructs with deletions of 5' flanking sequences fused to a thymidine kinase minimal promoter/E. coli lacZ reporter construct. By deletion analysis, a 470 bp long control element (AX 470) located 1.6 kb upstream of the transcription start site was identified that directed expression of the
beta-galactosidase
protein in a pattern reflecting the anterior boundary of expression of the endogenous Hoxa-7 gene. This element was active in either orientation and conferred region-specific expression to unrelated promoters, thereby behaving like an enhancer element. In contrast, transgenic mice carrying further 5' and 3' deletions of the 470 bp long element did not exhibit an anterior boundary of Hoxa-7 expression. Based on these results the minimal control element (AX 470) specifying the anterior boundary of Hox expression was designated as Hoxa-7 enhancer. Furthermore, 3 kb of the human HOXA7 upstream region were sequenced and compared to its mouse homologue in order to identify conserved regions. Sequence comparison revealed motifs that were strongly conserved between both species. The human homologue of the mouse Hoxa-7 enhancer was 70% identical at the nucleotide level and was also capable of directing an anterior boundary in transgenic mice. Using transgenic lines a detailed analysis of the Hoxa-7 enhancer-directed expression during embryogenesis was performed. lacZ expression was first detected in the allantois at day 7.5 p.c. and in mesoderm and ectoderm at day 8.5 of gestation. Between gestational ages E8.5 to E12.5 beta-gal expression was observed in the somites, spinal cord, spinal ganglia and paraxial mesoderm as well as in mesenchymal layers of the kidney. A distinct anterior limit of expression was noted in transgenic lines at level C4 (neural tube) and C5 (spinal ganglia). Our deletion experiments defined a minimal enhancer element specifying the anterior boundary of Hox gene expression in early and late phases of development. Further studies aim at characterizing the trans-acting factors that mediate the spatial and temporal expression of Hox genes in the developing embryo.
...
PMID:A conserved enhancer of the human and murine Hoxa-7 gene specifies the anterior boundary of expression during embryonal development. 753 68
The regulatory region of Drosophila proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) gene consists of a promoter region (-168 to +24 with respect to the transcription initiation site) and an upstream region containing three homeodomain protein binding sites (HDB) (-357 to -165). The PCNA gene regulatory regions with HDB (-607 to +137) or without HDB (-168 to +137) were fused with the lacZ and transgenic flies were established by P-element-mediated transformation. Male transgenic flies were crossed with wild-type females, and zygotic expression of the lacZ was monitored by quantitative
beta-galactosidase
assay, at various stages of development. Expression of the lacZ was high in embryos, first and second instar larvae, and adult females, and low at other stages of development. Only a marginal difference in expression was observed between flies carrying the homeodomain protein binding region and those not carrying it. Spatial pattern of the lacZ expression in the embryo visualized by immunostaining with the anti-lacZ antibody was similar to the distribution of the endogenous PCNA protein. Here, too, only a marginal difference was observed between transgenic flies carrying two different constructs of the PCNA lacZ. In genetic crossing experiments of transgenic flies with those carrying mutation in
homeobox
genes, no significant change in the lacZ expression pattern was observed. However, when male transgenic flies were crossed with female flies homozygous for a torso gain-of-function allele, repression of the lacZ expression was observed in the central region of the embryo. Because these local changes in the lacZ expression depend on the homeodomain protein binding region, unidentified homeodomain proteins are probably involved. Our results suggest that the promoter region is practically sufficient for expression of the PCNA gene and that the homeodomain protein binding region functions as a silencer when torso is activated ectopically.
...
PMID:Role of homeodomain protein binding region in the expression of Drosophila proliferating cell nuclear antigen gene: analysis with transgenic flies. 778 11
The murine
homeobox
-containing gene Hox-1.4 is expressed in restricted patterns during embryogenesis and in male germ cells. To begin identification of the cis-acting elements regulating this expression, transgenic mice were generated carrying a chimeric construct that contained approx. 4 kb of 5' flanking sequence and approx. 1 kb of structural gene, fused in frame to the E. coli lacZ gene. This construct directed expression of the resulting Hox-1.4,
beta-galactosidase
fusion protein in a pattern that reproduced virtually the complete embryonic and adult sites of expression of the endogenous gene. Embryonic expression of the fusion protein was first detected in mesoderm at day 8.0 of gestation (E 8.0). Between gestational ages E 8.5 to E 12.5, beta-gal expression was observed in the somites, the lateral walls of the posterior myelencephalon, the dorsal region and ventral wall of the spinal cord, spinal ganglia and prevertebrae and their surrounding mesenchyme, between presumptive ribs, as well as in mesenchymal layers in the lung, kidney and portions of the gut. Expression was also noted in the pancreas and in the supporting cells and sheath around subsets of peripheral nerves, sites that had not been detected previously. Adult expression was observed in testes, specifically in meiotic and post-meiotic male germ cells. In contrast, transgenic mice carrying 5' deletions of the construct which leave approx. 1.2 kb or approx. 2.0 kb of Hox-1.4 sequence 5' to the embryonic promoter, did not exhibit beta-gal staining. These deletion experiments defined at least one cis-acting control element necessary for the expression of the Hox-1.4 gene to a 2 kb region located 2 to 4 kb 5' of the embryonic transcription start site.
...
PMID:Sequences 5' of the homeobox of the Hox-1.4 gene direct tissue-specific expression of lacZ during mouse development. 810 Jul 63
It has been proposed that the Xenopus homeobox gene, XlHbox8, is involved in endodermal differentiation during pancreatic and duodenal development (Wright, C.V.E., Schnegelsberg, P. and De Robertis, E.M. (1988). Development 105, 787-794). To test this hypothesis directly, gene targeting was used to make two different null mutations in the mouse XlHbox8 homolog, pdx-1. In the first, the second pdx-1 exon, including the
homeobox
, was replaced by a neomycin resistance cassette. In the second, a lacZ reporter was fused in-frame with the N terminus of PDX-1, replacing most of the homeodomain. Neonatal pdx-1 -/- mice are apancreatic, in confirmation of previous reports (Jonsson, J., Carlsson, L., Edlund, T. and Edlund, H. (1994). Nature 371, 606-609). However, the pancreatic buds do form in homozygous mutants, and the dorsal bud undergoes limited proliferation and outgrowth to form a small, irregularly branched, ductular tree. This outgrowth does not contain insulin or amylase-positive cells, but glucagon-expressing cells are found. The rostral duodenum shows a local absence of the normal columnar epithelial lining, villi, and Brunner's glands, which are replaced by a GLUT2-positive cuboidal epithelium resembling the bile duct lining. Just distal of the abnormal epithelium, the numbers of enteroendocrine cells in the villi are greatly reduced. The PDX-1/
beta-galactosidase
fusion allele is expressed in pancreatic and duodenal cells in the absence of functional PDX-1, with expression continuing into perinatal stages with similar boundaries and expression levels. These results offer additional insight into the role of pdx-1 in the determination and differentiation of the posterior foregut, particularly regarding the proliferation and differentiation of the pancreatic progenitors.
...
PMID:PDX-1 is required for pancreatic outgrowth and differentiation of the rostral duodenum. 863 Dec 75
During development of the vertebrate nervous system, the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is expressed in a defined spatiotemporal pattern. We have proposed that the expression of N-CAM is controlled, in part, by proteins encoded by
homeobox
genes. This hypothesis has been supported by previous in vitro experiments showing that products of
homeobox
genes can both bind to and transactivate the N-CAM promoter via two homeodomain binding sites, HBS-I and HBS-II. We have now tested the hypothesis that the N-CAM gene is a target of homeodomain proteins in vivo by using transgenic mice containing native and mutated N-CAM promoter constructs linked to a
beta-galactosidase
reporter gene. Segments of the 5' flanking region of the mouse N-CAM gene were sufficient to direct expression of the reporter gene in the central nervous system in a pattern consistent with that of the endogenous N-CAM gene. For example, at embryonic day (E) 11,
beta-galactosidase
staining was found in postmitotic neurons in dorsolateral and ventrolateral regions of the spinal cord; at E14.5, staining was seen in these neurons throughout the spinal cord. In contrast, mice carrying an N-CAM promoter-reporter construct with mutations in both homeodomain binding sites (HBS-I and HBS-II) showed altered expression patterns in the spinal cord. At E11,
beta-galactosidase
expression was seen in the ventrolateral spinal cord, but was absent in the dorsolateral areas, and at E 14.5,
beta-galactosidase
expression was no longer detected in any cells of the cord. Homeodomain binding sites found in the N-CAM promoter thus appear to be important in determining specific expression patterns of N-CAM along the dorsoventral axis in the developing spinal cord. These experiments suggest that the N-CAM gene is an in vivo target of homeobox gene products in vertebrates.
...
PMID:Embryonic expression patterns of the neural cell adhesion molecule gene are regulated by homeodomain binding sites. 870 Aug 54
To explore possible neurogenic functions of the genes of the Hox/HOM complexes, we injected the mRNA from the leech
homeobox
genes Lox1 and Lox4 into adult neurons that normally do not express them. The ectopic expression of Lox1 induced a specific transformation in the electrical properties of certain identified neurons: action potential amplitude increased about threefold after the injections. This effect of Lox1 expression was restricted, among cell types examined, to the anterior pagoda neurons (APs) and the nut neurons. This effect was also restricted to Lox1 ectopic expression; the action potentials of APs and nut neurons were not enlarged when the mRNAs of either Lox4, another leech Hox/HOM gene, or
beta-galactosidase
were injected. Lox1 mRNA injection did not affect the resting potential, input resistance, or axonal morphology of the transformed APs, raising the possibility that it acts via the modification of voltage-dependent ion channels. Thus, a specific homeobox gene can transform key neuronal characteristics in a cell-specific manner. We may thus add electrophysiologic properties to other aspects of neuronal identity determined by homeobox gene expression.
...
PMID:New electrical properties of neurons induced by a homeoprotein. 921 66
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