homeotic gene

(hō′mē-ŏt′ĭk)

Any of various genes that determine the type or location of a body part during an organism's development, especially in the early embryonic development of vertebrates.

homeotic gene

one of a group of genes involved in DEVELOPMENT and DIFFERENTIATION, controlling the formation of whole organisms or body parts in animals and plants. Homeotic genes contain the homeobox, which encodes a PROTEIN DOMAIN that is capable of binding to DNA. Each homeotic gene regulates EXPRESSION of a set of other genes that direct development of a body part, such as an insect wing, antenna, leg. A TRANSCRIPTION factor, specified by the homeotic gene, binds to the PROMOTER of the set of genes that encodes the specific structure.

Many organisms have similar sets of homeotic genes. Dysfunction of these genes can result in developmental abnormalities.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

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References in periodicals archive

The best examples in plants are the changes of floral morphogenesis caused by floral homeotic genes. Many homeotic genes have been identified and characterized, and most belong to the plant MADS-box regulatory gene family (Purugganan et al., 1995).

The role of homeotic genes in flower development and evolution.

Floral homeotic genes: Isolation, characterization and expression during floral development.

Heterochrony in Plant Evolutionary Studies through the Twentieth Century

The MADS-box floral homeotic gene lineages predate the origin of seed plants: Phylogenetic and molecular clock estimates.

Floral homeotic genes were recruited from homologous MADS-box genes preexisting in the common ancestor of ferns and seed plants.

Inflorescence Architecture: A Developmental Genetics Approach [*]

It is not clear whether floral homeotic genes have prolonged effect on the function of lemma/palea or whether new sets of genes are activated.

Cloning and identification of highly expressed genes in barley lemma and palea

All homeotic genes are genes for switching other genes on or off," explains Ridley.

Strands of Life

In addition, Argonaute1 plays a central role in the posttranscriptional gene silencing of CURLYLEAF (CLF), encoding a Polycomb group protein that maintains the repression of both KNOTTED-like homeobox (KNOX) genes and homeotic genes AG and APETALA3 (AP3) in vegetative leaves, and in pollen development [21, 22].

In silico identification, phylogenetic and bioinformatic analysis of argonaute genes in plants

Meyerowitz, "A homolog of NO APICAL MERISTEM is an immediate target of the floral homeotic genes APETALA3/PISTILLATA," Cell, vol.

GmNAC5, a NAC transcription factor, is a transient response regulator induced by abiotic stress in soybean