Lack of the mesodermal homeodomain protein MEOX1 disrupts sclerotome polarity and leads to a remodeling of the cranio-cervical joints of the axial skeleton.

ABSTRACT: Meox1 and Meox2 are two related homeodomain transcription factor genes that together are essential for the development of all somite compartments. Here we show that mice homozygous for Meox1 mutations alone have abnormalities that are restricted to the sclerotome and its derivatives. A prominent and consistent phenotype of these mutations is a remodeling of the cranio-cervical joints whose major feature is the assimilation of the atlas into the basioccipital bone so that the skull rests on the axis. These abnormalities can be traced back to changes in the relative rates of cell proliferation in the rostral and caudal sclerotome compartments, and they are associated with alterations in the expression of at least three transcription factor genes, Tbx18, Uncx, and Bapx1. As previously observe

SUBMITTER: Skuntz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2898144 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature