Cdx1 and Cdx2 are functionally equivalent in vertebral patterning

It has been proposed that vertebral AP patterning is reliant on a gradient of the sum total of Cdx proteins, a posit that is consistent with functional redundancy between Cdx family members. To further assess this, we generated a gain-of-function model using BAC trangenesis to alter Cdx1 dosage. Cdx1 BAC transgenic mice overexpressed Cdx1 mRNA and protein, and fully complemented the Cdx1 null allele. However, gain of Cdx1 dosage via this BAC transgene in an otherwise wild type background had no discernible effects on vertebral patterning or Hox gene expression, suggesting that a moderate alteration in the Cdx protein gradient is of no consequence.