Vb. Morris et al., HOX-TYPE AND NON-HOX HOMEOBOX GENE-SEQUENCES IN GENOMIC DNA OF THE SEA-URCHIN HOLOPNEUSTES PURPURESCENS, Gene, 201(1-2), 1997, pp. 107-110
As a preliminary step in an analysis of Hox gene expression and radial
body plan specification in sea urchin development, we amplified parti
al homeobox sequences in H. purpurescens by PCR using degenerate prime
rs. The primers, HoxE and HoxF (Pendleton et al., 1993), spanned a hig
hly conserved region of 82 nucleotides encompassing amino acids 21-47
of the homeodomain. Seven Hox-type homeobox sequences and two non-Hox
homeobox sequences were identified. The seven Hox-type sequences were
placed provisionally in Hox paralogous groups, one in paralogous group
3, three in paralogous groups 6-8 and three in paralogous groups 9-13
. The non-Hox sequences had similarities with Xlox and Gbx homeobox ge
nes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.