Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sox genes encode transcription factors that function in a wide range of developmental processes across the animal kingdom. To better understand both the evolution of the Sox family and the roles of these genes in cnidarians, we are s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2008-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/8/311 |
| _version_ | 1818887362301657088 |
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| author | Technau Ulrich Hayward David C Iguchi Akira Shinzato Chuya Ball Eldon E Miller David J |
| author_facet | Technau Ulrich Hayward David C Iguchi Akira Shinzato Chuya Ball Eldon E Miller David J |
| author_sort | Technau Ulrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sox genes encode transcription factors that function in a wide range of developmental processes across the animal kingdom. To better understand both the evolution of the Sox family and the roles of these genes in cnidarians, we are studying the <it>Sox </it>gene complement of the coral, <it>Acropora millepora </it>(Class Anthozoa).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on overall domain structures and HMG box sequences, the <it>Acropora Sox </it>genes considered here clearly fall into four of the five major Sox classes. <it>AmSoxC </it>is expressed in the ectoderm during development, in cells whose morphology is consistent with their assignment as sensory neurons. The expression pattern of the <it>Nematostella </it>ortholog of this gene is broadly similar to that of <it>AmSoxC</it>, but there are subtle differences – for example, expression begins significantly earlier in <it>Acropora </it>than in <it>Nematostella</it>. During gastrulation, <it>AmSoxBb </it>and <it>AmSoxB1 </it>transcripts are detected only in the presumptive ectoderm while <it>AmSoxE1 </it>transcription is restricted to the presumptive endoderm, suggesting that these <it>Sox </it>genes might play roles in germ layer specification. A third type B <it>Sox </it>gene, <it>AmSoxBa</it>, and a <it>Sox </it>F gene <it>AmSoxF </it>also have complex and specific expression patterns during early development. Each of these genes has a clear <it>Nematostella </it>ortholog, but in several cases the expression pattern observed in <it>Acropora </it>differs significantly from that reported in <it>Nematostella</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These differences in expression patterns between <it>Acropora </it>and <it>Nematostella </it>largely reflect fundamental differences in developmental processes, underscoring the diversity of mechanisms within the anthozoan Sub-Class Hexacorallia (Zoantharia).</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:36:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca30b416c5944c93b7cb18a96ee180a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:36:01Z |
| publishDate | 2008-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca30b416c5944c93b7cb18a96ee180a22022-12-21T20:13:58ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482008-11-018131110.1186/1471-2148-8-311Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the AnthozoaTechnau UlrichHayward David CIguchi AkiraShinzato ChuyaBall Eldon EMiller David J<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sox genes encode transcription factors that function in a wide range of developmental processes across the animal kingdom. To better understand both the evolution of the Sox family and the roles of these genes in cnidarians, we are studying the <it>Sox </it>gene complement of the coral, <it>Acropora millepora </it>(Class Anthozoa).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on overall domain structures and HMG box sequences, the <it>Acropora Sox </it>genes considered here clearly fall into four of the five major Sox classes. <it>AmSoxC </it>is expressed in the ectoderm during development, in cells whose morphology is consistent with their assignment as sensory neurons. The expression pattern of the <it>Nematostella </it>ortholog of this gene is broadly similar to that of <it>AmSoxC</it>, but there are subtle differences – for example, expression begins significantly earlier in <it>Acropora </it>than in <it>Nematostella</it>. During gastrulation, <it>AmSoxBb </it>and <it>AmSoxB1 </it>transcripts are detected only in the presumptive ectoderm while <it>AmSoxE1 </it>transcription is restricted to the presumptive endoderm, suggesting that these <it>Sox </it>genes might play roles in germ layer specification. A third type B <it>Sox </it>gene, <it>AmSoxBa</it>, and a <it>Sox </it>F gene <it>AmSoxF </it>also have complex and specific expression patterns during early development. Each of these genes has a clear <it>Nematostella </it>ortholog, but in several cases the expression pattern observed in <it>Acropora </it>differs significantly from that reported in <it>Nematostella</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These differences in expression patterns between <it>Acropora </it>and <it>Nematostella </it>largely reflect fundamental differences in developmental processes, underscoring the diversity of mechanisms within the anthozoan Sub-Class Hexacorallia (Zoantharia).</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/8/311 |
| spellingShingle | Technau Ulrich Hayward David C Iguchi Akira Shinzato Chuya Ball Eldon E Miller David J Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| title | Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa |
| title_full | Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa |
| title_fullStr | Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa |
| title_short | Sox genes in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>: divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the Anthozoa |
| title_sort | sox genes in the coral it acropora millepora it divergent expression patterns reflect differences in developmental mechanisms within the anthozoa |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/8/311 |
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