Expression of Dlx genes during the development of the zebrafish pharyngeal dentition: evolutionary implications

SUMMARY In order to investigate similarities and differences in genetic control of development among teeth within and between species, we determined the expression pattern of all eight Dlx genes of the zebrafish during development of the pharyngeal dentition and compared these data with that reporte...

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Published in:Evolution & development 2006-03, Vol.8 (2), p.130-141
Main Authors: Borday-Birraux, V., Van der Heyden, C., Debiais-Thibaud, M., Verreijdt, L., Stock, D. W., Huysseune, A., Sire, J.-Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biodiversity
Biological Evolution
Branchial Region - embryology
Danio rerio
Dentition
Evolution
Fish
Gene expression
Homeodomain Proteins - biosynthesis
Homeodomain Proteins - genetics
In Situ Hybridization
Mice
Rodents
Teeth
Tooth - embryology
Transcription Factors - biosynthesis
Transcription Factors - genetics
Zebrafish - embryology
Zebrafish - genetics
Zebrafish Proteins - biosynthesis
Zebrafish Proteins - genetics
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Summary:SUMMARY In order to investigate similarities and differences in genetic control of development among teeth within and between species, we determined the expression pattern of all eight Dlx genes of the zebrafish during development of the pharyngeal dentition and compared these data with that reported for mouse molar tooth development. We found that (i) dlx1a and dlx6a are not expressed in teeth, in contrast to their murine orthologs, Dlx1 and Dlx6; (ii) the expression of the six other zebrafish Dlx genes overlaps in time and space, particularly during early morphogenesis; (iii) teeth in different locations and generations within the zebrafish dentition differ in the number of genes expressed; (iv) expression similarities and differences between zebrafish Dlx genes do not clearly follow phylogenetic and linkage relationships; and (v) similarities and differences exist in the expression of zebrafish and mouse Dlx orthologs. Taken together, these results indicate that the Dlx gene family, despite having been involved in vertebrate tooth development for over 400 million years, has undergone extensive diversification of expression of individual genes both within and between dentitions. The latter type of difference may reflect the highly specialized dentition of the mouse relative to that of the zebrafish, and/or genome duplication in the zebrafish lineage facilitating a redistribution of Dlx gene function during odontogenesis.
ISSN:1520-541X
1525-142X
DOI:10.1111/j.1525-142X.2006.00084.x