Evolutionary Constraints Favor a Biophysical Model Explaining Hox Gene Collinearity

  • Almirantis Y
  • Provata A
  • Papageorgiou S
11Citations
Citations of this article
12Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

The Hox gene collinearity enigma has often been approached using models based on biomolecular mechanisms. The biophysical model is an alternative approach based on the hypothesis that collinearity is caused by physical forces pulling the Hox genes from a territory where they are inactive to a distinct spatial domain where they are activated in a step by step manner. Such Hox gene translocations have recently been observed in support of the biophysical model. Genetic engineering experiments, performed on embryonic mice, gave rise to several unexpected mutant expressions that the biomolecular models cannot predict. On the contrary, the biophysical model offers convincing explanation. Evolutionary constraints consolidate the Hox clusters and as a result, denser and well organized clusters may create more efficient physical forces and a more emphatic manifestation of gene collinearity. This is demonstrated by stochastic modeling with white noise perturbing the expression of Hox genes. As study cases the genomes of mouse and amphioxus are used. The results support the working hypothesis that vertebrates have adopted their comparably more compact Hox clustering as a tool needed to develop more complex body structures. Several experiments are proposed in order to test further the physical forces hypothesis.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Almirantis, Y., Provata, A., & Papageorgiou, S. (2013). Evolutionary Constraints Favor a Biophysical Model Explaining Hox Gene Collinearity. Current Genomics, 14(4), 279–288. https://doi.org/10.2174/13892029113149990003

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free