Anusha Amali, Aseervatham Sie, Lawrence Winkler, Christoph Featherstone, Mark <i>cdx4</i>, <i>meis1.1</i> and Hox gene expression in <i>hoxd4a</i> morphants, and a genetic pathway for specification of hemangioblasts and unipotential stem cells. <p>(A) qRT-PCR showing decreased expression of <i>meis1.1</i> and many, but not all, <i>hox</i> genes in <i>hoxd4a</i> morphants at 26–28 hpf. By contrast, <i>cdx4</i> levels are unchanged. Samples were normalized to <i>β-actin</i>. Error bars indicate standard error. All pairs marked with an asterisk meet statistical significance (p≤0.02). (B) Based on the results presented here and those in the literature, we propose a pathway in which <i>hoxd4a</i> and <i>meis1.1</i> occupy sequential steps downstream of <i>cloche</i> and <i>cdx1/4</i> in a genetic programme leading to the specification of hemangioblasts and unipotential angiogenic and hematopoietic stem cells. The effects of <i>hoxd4a</i> knockdown may be magnified through positive cross-regulatory interactions with <i>meis1.1</i>. The observed effects on the expression of multiple Hox genes could be due to the direct action of <i>hoxd4a</i> and <i>meis1.1</i>. Non-exclusively, <i>cdx1</i> and <i>cdx4</i> may act in conjunction with <i>hoxd4a</i> and <i>meis1.1</i> in a feed-forward type of mechanism to regulate one or more of these same Hox genes with widespread consequences for vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and hematopoiesis at all levels.</p> findings place hoxd 4a;cdx;Hox genes;ventral-most mesoderm fated;hoxd 4a function;group paralog Hoxd 4 display malformations;13 hours post fertilization;meis 1.1 expression;hemangioblast markers scl 1;hoxd 4a acts;PLM;orthologous hoxd 4a gene;Zebrafish hoxd 4a Acts Upstream;meis 1.1 2013-03-16
    https://plos.figshare.com/articles/figure/_cdx4_meis1_1_and_Hox_gene_expression_in_hoxd4a_morphants_and_a_genetic_pathway_for_specification_of_hemangioblasts_and_unipotential_stem_cells_/653069
10.1371/journal.pone.0058857.g010