• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.23-27
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• 2023

Hoxc, or the Homeobox C cluster, is a group of genes that play a crucial role in embryonic development, particularly in patterning the body along the anterior-posterior axis. These genes encode transcription factors, which are proteins that bind to DNA and regulate the expression of other genes. Hoxc9 is specifically involved in the development of the skeletal system, nervous system, and adipose tissue. Hoxc9 overexpression has been linked to the development of various cancers such as leukemia and breast cancer. Here, we assigned the chemical shifts Hoxc9 DNA binding domain (DBD) using heteronuclear NMR techniques. The helical regions of Hoxc9 DBD correspond to the residues T200 - F213 (Helix I), T218 - L229 (Helix II), and T232 - K249 (Helix III). Our result would be helpful for studing the molecular interactions of the Hoxc9 DBD and other proteins.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.703-708
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• 2015

Hox genes encode a highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors controlling vertebrate pattern formation along the anteroposterior body axis during embryogenesis. Retinoic acid (RA) is a key morphogen in embryogenesis and a critical regulator of both adult and embryonic cellular activity. Specifically, RA regulates Hox gene expression in mouse- or human-derived embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells. Histone modification has been reported to play a pivotal role in the process of RA-induced gene expression and cell differentiation. As histone modification is thought to play an essential role in RA-induced Hox gene expression, we examined RA-induced initiation of collinear expression of Hox genes and the corresponding histone modifications in F9 murine embryonic teratocarcinoma (EC) cells. Hox expression patterns and histone modifications were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, RNA-sequencing, and chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP)-PCR analyses. The Hoxc4 gene (D0) was initiated earlier than the Hoxc5 to –c10 genes (D3) upon RA treatment (day 0 [D0], day 1 [D1], and day 3 [D3]). The Hox nonexpressing D0 sample had a strong repressive marker, H3K27me3, than the D1 and D3 samples. In the D1 and D3 samples, reduced enrichment of the H3K27me3 marker was observed in the whole cluster. The active H3K4me3 marker was closely associated with the collinear expression of Hoxc genes. Thus, the Hoxc4 gene (D1) and all Hoxc genes (D3) expressed H3K4me3 upon transcription activation. In conclusion, these data indicated that removing H3K27me3 and acquiring H3K4me3 regulated RA-induced Hoxc gene collinearity in F9 cells.