Hes7, a bHLH-type repressor gene, is crucial for somitogenesis. It is regulated by Notch signaling and expressed in the presomitic mesoderm. Its oscillatory expression controls the periodic segmentation of the presomitic mesoderm into somites, which form the vertebral column and associated tissues. Hes7 is also involved in Fgf and Notch signaling pathways, which are important for regulating the timing of somite formation [2,4].

In mouse models, various studies have demonstrated the significance of Hes7. Mutant mice expressing Hes7 with a longer half-life showed severely disorganized somite segmentation and oscillatory expression after a few normal cycles, indicating that the instability of Hes7 is essential for sustained oscillation and its function as a segmentation clock [6]. Inserting a large intron into Hes7 3'UTR led to loss of 3'UTR, reduction of Hes7 protein, damped oscillation, and improper periodic somite segmentation, showing that 3'UTR is essential for accumulating adequate Hes7 protein for the somite segmentation clock [5]. Additionally, Fgf4 mutants, which display vertebral defects, were found to have abnormal Hes7 levels, suggesting Fgf4 maintains Hes7 levels critical for normal somite segmentation clock function [3]. In humans, homozygous or compound heterozygous HES7 variants can cause spondylocostal dysostosis 4 (SCDO4), characterized by short stature, dyspnea, and spinal deformities [1].

In conclusion, Hes7 is essential for the proper formation of somites during vertebrate development. Mouse models have been instrumental in revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying its function, such as the importance of protein instability and 3'UTR for its role in the segmentation clock. In humans, HES7 variants are associated with SCDO4, highlighting the translational relevance of Hes7 research in understanding congenital spine diseases.