Nme gene family evolutionary history reveals pre-metazoan origins and high conservation between humans and the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Nme gene family is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes such as cellular differentiation, development, metastatic dissemination, and cilia functions. Despite the known importance of Nme genes and their use as clinical markers of tumor aggressiveness, the associated cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Over the last 20 years, several non-vertebrate model species have been used to investigate Nme functions. However, the evolutionary history of the family remains poorly understood outside the vertebrate lineage. The aim of the study was thus to elucidate the evolutionary history of the Nme gene family in Metazoans.

Methodology/principal findings

Using a total of 21 eukaryote species including 14 metazoans, the evolutionary histor

SUBMITTER: Desvignes T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2978717 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature