STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HOX A1 HUMAN HOMEOBOX GENE CDNA

Homeobox genes code for transcription factors and are arranged in clusters, named A, B, C and D, found on four separate chromosomes in vertebrates, They contain a homeobox DNA sequence which codes for the homeodomain, a region of amino acids responsible for the DNA binding exhibited by these proteins. During embryonic development, the homeobox genes are both spatially and temporally regulated. In teratocarcinoma cell cultures, homeobox genes are regulated by retinoic acid (RA), The cDNAs from the first gene in the human HOX A cluster, HOX Al (1.6), were cloned and the nucleotide sequence of a full-length cDNA was determined. It is highly homologous to its murine counterpart. Another HOX ill cDNA was cloned, corresponding to an alternatively spliced form. In vitro translation of the full-length cDNA clone gave rise to a protein of 36 kDa. In PA-1 human teratocarcinoma cells HOX Al is the earliest HOX A gene to be expressed after treatment with RA. To test whether HOX Al could function as a early regulator of other HOX A cluster genes, we cotransfected into PA-1 human teratocarcinoma cells sense and antisense HOX Al cDNAs expressed from an SV40 promoter with a 5.4-kb RA-sensitive HOX A4 (1.4) promoter-cat reporter. We found no effect of HOX Al on the HOX A4 promoter. However, cotransfection of HOX A5 (1.3) was able to inhibit the HOX A4 promoter activity.