A clustered set of three Sp-family genes is ancestral in the Metazoa: evidence from sequence analysis, protein domain structure, developmental expression patterns and chromosomal location.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Sp-family of transcription factors are evolutionarily conserved zinc finger proteins present in many animal species. The orthology of the Sp genes in different animals is unclear and their evolutionary history is therefore controversially discussed. This is especially the case for the Sp gene buttonhead (btd) which plays a key role in head development in Drosophila melanogaster, and has been proposed to have originated by a recent gene duplication. The purpose of the presented study was to trace orthologs of btd in other insects and reconstruct the evolutionary history of the Sp genes within the metazoa.

Results

We isolated Sp genes from representatives of a holometabolous insect (Tribolium castaneum), a hemimetabolous insect (Oncopeltus fasciatus), primitivel

SUBMITTER: Schaeper ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3087555 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature