Hox clusters and bilaterian phylogeny

A large Hox cluster comprising at least seven genes has evolved by gene duplications in the ancestors of bilaterians. It probably emerged from a mini-cluster of three or four genes that was present before the divergence of cnidarians and bilaterians. The comparison of Hox structural data in bilateri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 2002-09, Vol.24 (3), p.366-373
Main Authors: Balavoine, Guillaume, de Rosa, Renaud, Adoutte, André
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
DNA, Ribosomal
DNA, Ribosomal - metabolism
Evolution, Molecular
Gene Duplication
Homeodomain Proteins
Homeodomain Proteins - genetics
Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism
Hox cluster
Invertebrates
Invertebrates - genetics
Life Sciences
Metazoan phylogeny
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - metabolism
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Urbilateria
Vertebrates
Vertebrates - genetics
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Summary:A large Hox cluster comprising at least seven genes has evolved by gene duplications in the ancestors of bilaterians. It probably emerged from a mini-cluster of three or four genes that was present before the divergence of cnidarians and bilaterians. The comparison of Hox structural data in bilaterian phyla shows that the genes of the anterior part of the cluster have been more conserved than those of the posterior part. Some specific signature sequences, present in the form of signature residues within the homeodomain or conserved peptides outside the homeodomain, constitute phylogenetic evidence for the monophyly of protostomes and their division into ecdysozoans and lophotrochozoans. These conserved motifs may provide decisive arguments for the phylogenetic position of some enigmatic phyla.
ISSN:1055-7903
1095-9513
DOI:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00237-3