Mammalian-Specific Ectodermal Enhancers Control the Expression of Hoxc Genes in Developing Nails and Hair Follicles
November 2020
in “
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
”
Studysummary This study found that the HoxC gene cluster plays a critical role in the development of ectodermal organs, including hair and nails, with mammalian-specific enhancers increasing transcription levels during development.
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The study explored the role of mammalian-specific ectodermal enhancers, EC1 and EC2, in regulating Hoxc gene expression during the development of nails and hair follicles. Using a mouse model, researchers found that deleting both enhancers led to significant phenotypic changes, such as disheveled fur, hypoplastic nails, and cyclic alopecia, due to reduced Hoxc13 expression. Individual deletions showed no significant effects, indicating redundancy between the enhancers. The study concluded that EC1 and EC2 are crucial for maintaining normal Hoxc gene expression levels necessary for proper morphogenesis of epidermal organs, highlighting their evolutionary significance in mammalian integument development.
