A non-tree-based comprehensive study of metazoan Hox and ParaHox genes prompts new insights into their origin and evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hox and the closely-related ParaHox genes, which emerged prior to the divergence between cnidarians and bilaterians, are the most well-known members of the ancient genetic toolkit that controls embryonic development across all metazoans. Fundamental questions relative to their origin and evolutionary relationships remain however unresolved. We investigate here the evolution of metazoan Hox and ParaHox genes using the HoxPred program that allows the identification of Hox genes without the need of phylogenetic tree reconstructions.

Results

We show that HoxPred provides an efficient and accurate classification of Hox and ParaHox genes in their respective homology groups, including Hox paralogous groups (PGs). We analyzed more than 10,000 sequences from 310 metazoan s

SUBMITTER: Thomas-Chollier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2842273 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature