(A) Schematic of Hotair conditional knockout (cKO) allele. Arrowhead, Loxp site.
(B) qRT-PCR confirms loss of Hotair expression in KO TTF.
(C) Micro-CT scans showing “L6a→S1” homeotic transformation of the lumbar vertebrae, which resulted in losing the 6th lumbar and having structurally deformed 1st sacral vertebrae (arrow) in Hotair KO mice. L, lumbar vertebrae; S, sacral vertebrae.
(D) Alizarin Red-Alcian Blue staining showing the deformed wrist bones in KO mice. Digits (II-V), carpal elements (1, 2, 3, 4/5), central element (c), radiale (r), ulnare (u), radius (ra) and ulna (ul). Note the fusion of carpal elements c-3, and 1-2-c (circled area), and missing radius (asterisk) in KOs. 4/5 are always naturally fused in WT wrist. (Scale bar: 0.5mm)
(E) Summary of skeletal abnormalities in Hotair KO mice. Phenotype penetrance, number (n) of animals examined, and p-values (Fisher’s exact test) are indicated.
See also Figure S1.