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Review
. 2021 Jul 15;9(3):28.
doi: 10.3390/jdb9030028.

There and Back Again: Hox Clusters Use Both DNA Strands

Elena L Novikova  1   2 , Milana A Kulakova  1   2
Affiliations
Review

There and Back Again: Hox Clusters Use Both DNA Strands

Elena L Novikova et al. J Dev Biol. .

Abstract

Bilaterian animals operate the clusters of Hox genes through a rich repertoire of diverse mechanisms. In this review, we will summarize and analyze the accumulated data concerning long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are transcribed from sense (coding) DNA strands of Hox clusters. It was shown that antisense regulatory RNAs control the work of Hox genes in cis and trans, participate in the establishment and maintenance of the epigenetic code of Hox loci, and can even serve as a source of regulatory peptides that switch cellular energetic metabolism. Moreover, these molecules can be considered as a force that consolidates the cluster into a single whole. We will discuss the examples of antisense transcription of Hox genes in well-studied systems (cell cultures, morphogenesis of vertebrates) and bear upon some interesting examples of antisense Hox RNAs in non-model Protostomia.

Keywords: Hox cluster evolution; Hox genes; NATs; antisense ncRNAs; antisense transcription; linkRNAs; lncRNAs; long noncoding RNAs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The main pathways for controlling the transcription of Hox genes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hox-associated lncRNAs are found in bilateral animals belonging to three main evolutionary lineages—Deuterostomia, Lophotrochozoa, and Ecdysozoa. Individual human lncRNAs are listed in Table 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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