The chicken caudal genes establish an anterior-posterior gradient by partially overlapping temporal and spatial patterns of expression

The caudal genes in vertebrates as in invertebrates assume a posterior position along the anterior-posterior axis and they appear to regulate the expression of the Hox genes. The third chicken caudal gene, Cdx-C, was cloned. Extensive comparisons of the sequence of this protein to the other known members of this homeobox family has lead to the suggestion that vertebrate genomes contain three members of the caudal homeobox family. A comparative study of the chicken Cdx-A and Cdx-C genes during gastrulation and neurulation revealed the differences between the genes. The caudal genes exhibit sequential activation in the newly formed neural plate and sequential extinction in axial midline structures during the primitive streak regression along the anterior-posterior axis. This pattern of expression suggests that the number and identity of caudal genes expressed along the anterior-posterior axis changes dynamically.