C. Leimeister et al., Hey genes: a novel subfamily of hairy- and Enhancer of split related genesspecifically expressed during mouse embryogenesis, MECH DEVEL, 85(1-2), 1999, pp. 173-177
We have identified a novel subfamily of mammalian hairy/Enhancer of split (
E(spl))-related basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes together with a putativ
e Drosophila homologue. While hairy/E(spl) proteins are characterized by an
invariant proline residue in the basic domain and a carboxyterminal grouch
o-binding WRPW motif, our genes encode a carboxyterminal KP<(YRPW)under bar
>G sequence and were thus designated as Hev genes (Hairy/E(spl)-related wit
h YRPW motif). Furthermore, they bear a unique C-terminal TE(I/V)GAF motif
and the characteristic proline is changed in all Hey family members to glyc
ine. RNA in situ hybridization analysis revealed specific expression of Hey
1 during development of the nervous system, the somites, the heart and the
craniofacial region. Hey2 is similarly expressed in the somites whereas it.
shows a complementary expression in the heart, the craniofacial region and
the nervous system. The diversity of expression patterns implies unique fu
nctions in neurogenesis, somitogenesis and organogenesis. (C) 1999 Elsevier
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