The human PRD-like homeobox gene LEUTX has a central role in embryo genome activation.

ABSTRACT: Leucine twenty homeobox (LEUTX) is a paired (PRD)-like homeobox gene that is expressed almost exclusively in human embryos during preimplantation development. We previously identified a novel transcription start site for the predicted human LEUTX gene based on the transcriptional analysis of human preimplantation embryos. The novel variant encodes a protein with a complete homeodomain. Here, we provide a detailed description of the molecular cloning of the complete homeodomain-containing LEUTX Using a human embryonic stem cell overexpression model we show that the complete homeodomain isoform is functional and sufficient to activate the transcription of a large proportion of the genes that are upregulated in human embryo genome activation (EGA), whereas the previously predicted partial hom

SUBMITTER: Jouhilahti EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5087614 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature