Hox11 genes establish synovial joint organization and phylogenetic characteristics in developing mouse zeugopod skeletal elements.

ABSTRACT: Hox11 genes are essential for zeugopod skeletal element development but their roles in synovial joint formation remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the elbow and knee joints of mouse embryos lacking all Hox11 paralogous genes are specifically remodeled and reorganized. The proximal ends of developing mutant ulna and radius elements became morphologically similar and formed an anatomically distinct elbow joint. The mutant ulna lacked the olecranon that normally attaches to the triceps brachii muscle tendon and connects the humerus to the ulna. In its place, an ulnar patella-like element developed that expressed lubricin on its ventral side facing the joint and was connected to the triceps muscle tendon. In mutant knees, both tibia and fibula fully articulated with an enlarged femoral

SUBMITTER: Koyama E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3049277 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature