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Evolutionary history of the iroquois/Irx genes in metazoans

Journal Article · · BMC Evolutionary Biology (Online)
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Gif-sur-Yvette (France). Centre de Génétique Moléculaire. Evolution et Développement des métazoaires; Université Paris Diderot (France). UFR Sciences du Vivant; Université Paris Diderot (France). Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Inst. Jacques Monod; DOE/OSTI
  2. Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay (France). Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Développement, Morphogenèse et Évolution; Stowers Inst. for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO (United States)
  3. Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay (France). Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Développement, Morphogenèse et Évolution
  4. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Gif-sur-Yvette (France). Centre de Génétique Moléculaire. Evolution et Développement des métazoaires; Université Paris Diderot (France). UFR Sciences du Vivant; Université Paris Diderot (France). Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Inst. Jacques Monod
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Background: The iroquois (iro/Irx) genes encode transcriptional regulators that belong to the TALE superclass of homeodomain proteins and have key functions during development in both vertebrates and insects. The Irx genes occur in one or two genomic clusters containing three genes each within the Drosophila and several vertebrate genomes, respectively. The similar genomic organization in Drosophila and vertebrates is widely considered as a result of convergent evolution, due to independent tandem gene duplications. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary history of the Irx genes at the scale of the whole metazoan kingdom. Results: We identified in silico the putative full complement of Irx genes in the sequenced genomes of 36 different species representative of the main metazoan lineages, including non bilaterian species, several arthropods, non vertebrate chordates, and a basal vertebrate, the sea lamprey. We performed extensive phylogenetic analyses of the identified Irx genes and defined their genomic organizations. We found that, in most species, there are several Irx genes, these genes form two to four gene clusters, and the Irx genes are physically linked to a structurally and functionally unrelated gene known as CG10632 in Drosophila. Conclusion: Three main conclusions can be drawn from our study. First, an Irx cluster composed of two genes, araucan/caupolican and mirror, is ancestral to the crustaceans+insects clade and has been strongly conserved in this clade. Second, three Irx genes were probably present in the last common ancestor of vertebrates and the duplication that has given rise to the six genes organized into two clusters found in most vertebrates, likely occurred in the gnathostome lineage after its separation from sea lampreys. Third, the clustered organization of the Irx genes in various evolutionary lineages may represent an exceptional case of convergent evolution or may point to the existence of an Irx gene cluster ancestral to bilaterians.
Research Organization:
USDOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
OSTI ID:
1626384
Journal Information:
BMC Evolutionary Biology (Online), Journal Name: BMC Evolutionary Biology (Online) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 9; ISSN 1471-2148
Publisher:
BioMed CentralCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (13)

Loss of Iroquois homeobox transcription factors 3 and 5 in osteoblasts disrupts cranial mineralization journal December 2016
Evolutionary Developmental Genomics: At the 2008 meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology journal May 2010
A non-tree-based comprehensive study of metazoan Hox and ParaHox genes prompts new insights into their origin and evolution journal January 2010
A conserved cluster of three PRD-class homeobox genes (homeobrain, rx and orthopedia) in the Cnidaria and Protostomia journal July 2010
Long noncoding RNAs in lipid metabolism: literature review and conservation analysis across species journal November 2019
The Bilaterian Head Patterning Gene six3/6 Controls Aboral Domain Development in a Cnidarian journal February 2013
Cell type‐specific regulation of ciliary transition zone assembly in vertebrates journal April 2018
Evolution of Homeobox Gene Clusters in Animals: The Giga-Cluster and Primary vs. Secondary Clustering journal April 2016
Iroquois Homeodomain transcription factors in ventricular conduction system and arrhythmia journal January 2018
Homeodomain Subtypes and Functional Diversity book January 2011
Evolution of the Insect Yellow Gene Family journal July 2010
A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the adult Drosophila ventral nerve cord posted_content January 2019
A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the adult Drosophila ventral nerve cord journal April 2020

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Evolutionary Biology
Genetics & Heredity