Research Highlights | Nature Reviews Genetics

You have full access to this article via your institution. Download PDF EVO–DEVO EVOLUTION OF A TRANSCRIPTIONAL REPRESSION DOMAIN IN AN INSECT HOX PROTEIN.Galant, R. _et al_. _Nature_ 415,

910–913 (2002) HOX PROTEIN MUTATION AND MACROEVOLUTION OF THE INSECT BODY PLAN.Ronshaugen, M. _et al_. _Nature_ 415, 914–917 (2002) Mutations in Hox genes have often been implicated in large

shifts in animal morphology, either because of an altered expression pattern of Hox transcription factors or due to variations in their DNA binding specificity. These two studies have

identified mutations outside the DNA binding domain that have been instrumental in the evolution of insects (such as _Drosophila_), which have six legs, from their multiple-limbed ancestors.

The focus of the two papers is the Hox gene _Ubx_: this gene can repress limb development in insects because of an Ala-rich stretch in the protein's carboxyl terminus. In two taxa that

are related to insects, _Ubx_ promotes limb development either because the repressive domain is counteracted by a second domain (in crustaceans) or, as in the more distantly related velvet

worms, it is missing altogether. GENE MAPPING HETEROGENEITY OF LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM IN HUMAN GENES HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR ASSOCIATION STUDIES OF COMMON DISEASE.Tiret, L. _et al_. _Hum. Mol.

Genet._ 11, 419–429 (2002) Genome-wide studies have shown that linkage disequilibrium (LD) is not uniformly distributed across the genome but little is known of LD structure around

individual genes. To address this, Tiret _et al_. genotyped 750 Europeans for 228 polymorphisms in 50 candidate cardiovascular disease genes. They report that non-synonymous (NS)

polymorphisms often occur at a low frequency and are often in negative LD with other markers, indicating that the effects of a NS polymorphism might not always be detectable from a nearby

marker. MOUSE MODELS COLORECTAL CANCER IN MICE GENETICALLY DEFICIENT IN THE MUCIN MUC2.Velcich, A. _et al_. _Science_ 295, 1726–1729 (2002) Mucins are the main component of the mucus that

lubricates and protects the gastrointestinal epithelium. Because altered expression and glycosylation of mucins has been observed in colorectal cancers, Velcich _et al_. knocked out mucin 2

(_Muc2_) — which encodes the most abundant intestinal mucin — in mice. _Muc2_−/− mice develop with aberrant crypts and altered epithelial cell maturation and migration. Most importantly,

they often develop small intestinal adenomas that become invasive adenocarcinomas and rectal tumours, indicating that Muc2 might suppress colorectal tumour formation. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS

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