Final Activity Report Summary - INTCHEM (Non-covalent interactions in Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Chromatin structure is central to the control of gene expression. It is only recently, that there has been a realisation that the level of compaction of genes or their localisation within the cell nucleus may be very important for gene activation and gene silencing, especially in a developmental context. In order to better understand these phenomena, we have focussed on specific clusters of genes - the Hox complexes.
Hox genes ensure the proper development of the embryo by organising the embryonic structures along the antero-posterior axis. Given their crucial role, mutations of these genes often result in developmental anomalies or embryonic death. In mammals, there are four clusters of Hox genes (A, B, C and D), which are highly related to each other in sequence and organisation but which function in different aspects of development. Within each cluster there is a correspondence between the linear order of the genes on the chromosome and their sequence of activation in the developing embryo - the colinearity rule. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this exquisite gene regulation are poorly understood.
Hox genes ensure the proper development of the embryo by organising the embryonic structures along the antero-posterior axis. Given their crucial role, mutations of these genes often result in developmental anomalies or embryonic death. In mammals, there are four clusters of Hox genes (A, B, C and D), which are highly related to each other in sequence and organisation but which function in different aspects of development. Within each cluster there is a correspondence between the linear order of the genes on the chromosome and their sequence of activation in the developing embryo - the colinearity rule. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this exquisite gene regulation are poorly understood.