Specificity of cellular expression of C. variopedatus polychaete innexin in the developing embryo: evolutionary aspects of innexins' heterogeneous gene structures

Innexins are a family of membrane proteins involved in the formation of gap junctions in invertebrates. They have been found to participate in several aspects of cell differentiation and in embryonic patterning through the formation of specific intercellular communication channels. We present here d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of molecular evolution 2003-01, Vol.57 Suppl 1 (S1), p.S165-S173
Main Authors: Potenza, Nicoletta, del Gaudio, Rosanna, Chiusano, Maria Luisa, Russo, Giuseppina Maria Rosaria, Geraci, Giuseppe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cellular biology
Chaetopterus variopedatus
Chromosomes
Embryo, Nonmammalian - cytology
Evolutionary biology
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Genomics
Insect Proteins - genetics
Larva
Membrane Proteins - genetics
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
Molecular Sequence Data
Organ Specificity
Phylogeny
Polychaeta - cytology
Polychaeta - embryology
Polychaeta - genetics
Proteins
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Worms
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Summary:Innexins are a family of membrane proteins involved in the formation of gap junctions in invertebrates. They have been found to participate in several aspects of cell differentiation and in embryonic patterning through the formation of specific intercellular communication channels. We present here data showing that the recently identified innexin of the marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus is expressed only in particular cells of the early stage, demonstrating cell specificity of innexin expression also in polychaete annelids. Phylogenetic analysis of all known innexins results in a phylogenetic tree clearly distinguishing insect, nematode, and other invertebrate innexins. Comparative analysis of proteins and known related genes shows that the apparent similarity of protein composition, overall structural organization, and specificity of cellular expression, typical of innexins of all studied organisms, correspond to highly heterogeneous gene structures even for genes that are in close contiguity on the same chromosome. A possible evolutionary motive producing this situation is discussed.
ISSN:0022-2844
1432-1432
DOI:10.1007/s00239-003-0023-2