Abstract
Hox genes encode evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that specify regional identities along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis. Although some Hox genes are known to regulate the differentiation of certain neurons, to what extent Hox genes are involved in the terminal specification of the entire nervous system is unclear. Here, we systematically mapped the expression of all six Hox genes in C. elegans nervous system and found Hox expression in 97 (32%) of the 302 neurons in adult hermaphrodites. Our results are generally consistent with previous high-throughput expression mapping and single-cell transcriptomic studies. Detailed analysis of the fate markers for these neurons revealed that Hox genes regulate the differentiation of 29 (25%) of the 118 classes of C. elegans neurons. Hox genes not only regulate the specification of terminal neuronal fates through multiple mechanisms but also control subtype diversification along the A-P axis. The widespread involvement of Hox genes in neuronal differentiation indicates their roles in establishing complex nervous systems.
Highlights
Hox genes are a group of evolutionarily conserved homeodomain transcription factors that specify regional identities along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis during development [1]
The nervous system contains an extraordinary array of neuron types
How this neuronal diversity arises during development and what genes regulate the differentiation of each neuron type are among the major questions of neurobiology
Summary
Hox genes are a group of evolutionarily conserved homeodomain transcription factors that specify regional identities along the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis during development [1]. Hox genes instruct neural patterning during neurogenesis and regulate the subtype specification of diverse population of motor neurons in the hindbrain and the spinal cord by controlling axon trajectories and circuit connectivity [10]. These findings suggest that the function of Hox genes in terminal neuronal fate determination and subtype specification is highly conserved across animal species
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