同源异性盒基因和胚胎发育

HOMEOBOX GENES AND EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

介绍了发育生物学领域的最新成果－同源异性盒基因的研究进展。在脊椎动物中也发现与果蝇ＨＯＭ基因具有线性对应关系的Ｈｏｘ同源异性盒基因，这种相关性引起了人们对其功能意义及分子基础的探讨，已经很清楚的是同源异型盒基因编码的ＤＮＡ结合蛋白在胚胎发育过程中起着非常重要的作用。脊椎动物发育过程的分子分析已取得了长足进展，常借助随机或定标导入基因的方法，引起生物体“获得”或“失去”功能的突变。

One of the most remarkable recent findings in developmental biology has been the colinear and homologous relationships shared between the Drosophila HOM and vertebrate Hox homeobox gene complexes.These relationships pose the question of the functional significance of eolinearity and its molecular basis.It is clear now that homeobox genes encode DNA-binding proteins that play a important role during embryonic development.Molecular analysis of vertebrate development has already made a great leap forward.The function of these genes has been possible analyzed using generate gain-or loss-of-function mutations by random or targeted introduction of transgenes.It is hoped that these studies can reveal the mechanisms of molecular control during embryo development.