Hox and ParaHox genes in Nemertodermatida, a basal bilaterian clade.
Int J Dev Biol
; 50(8): 675-9, 2006.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17051477
ABSTRACT
Molecular evidence suggests that Acoelomorpha, a proposed phylum composed of acoel and Nemertodermatida flatworms, are the most basal bilaterian animals. Hox and ParaHox gene complements characterised so far in acoels consist of a small set of genes, comprising representatives of anterior, central and posterior genes, altogether Hox and ParaHox, but no PG3-Xlox representatives have been reported. It has been proposed that this might be the ancestral Hox repertoire in basal bilaterians. However, no studies of the other members of the group, the Nemertodermatida, have been done. In order to get a more complete picture of the basal bilaterian Hox and ParaHox complement, we have analysed the Hox/ParaHox complement of the nemertodermatid Nemertoderma westbladi. We have found representatives of two central and one posterior Hox genes, as well as an Xlox and a Caudal ParaHox gene. From our data we conclude that a PG3-Xlox gene was present in the ancestor of bilaterians. These findings support the speculation that basal bilaterians already had the beginnings of the extended central Hox set, driving back gene duplications in the central part of the Hox cluster deeper in phylogeny than previously suggested.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Genes Homeobox
/
Proteínas de Homeodomínio
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Dev Biol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
EMBRIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2006
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha