The Mohawk homeobox gene is a critical regulator of tendon differentiation.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 20498044.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.1000525107 and PMC identifier 2890854.
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Abstract
Mohawk (Mkx) is a member of the Three Amino acid Loop Extension superclass of atypical homeobox genes that is expressed in developing tendons. To investigate the in vivo functions of Mkx, we generated Mkx(-/-) mice. These mice had hypoplastic tendons throughout the body. Despite the reduction in tendon mass, the cell number in tail tendon fiber bundles was similar between wild-type and Mkx(-/-) mice. We also observed small collagen fibril diameters and a down-regulation of type I collagen in Mkx(-/-) tendons. These data indicate that Mkx plays a critical role in tendon differentiation by regulating type I collagen production in tendon cells.
Medical subject headings
- Cell Differentiation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Homeodomain Proteins
- Tendons