A horizontal gene transfer supported the evolution of an early metazoan biomineralization strategy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The synchronous and widespread adoption of the ability to biomineralize was a defining event for metazoan evolution during the late Precambrian/early Cambrian 545 million years ago. However our understanding on the molecular level of how animals first evolved this capacity is poor. Because sponges are the earliest branching phylum of biomineralizing metazoans, we have been studying how biocalcification occurs in the coralline demosponge Astrosclera willeyana.

Results

We have isolated and characterized a novel protein directly from the calcified spherulites of A. willeyana. Using three independent lines of evidence (genomic architecture of the gene in A. willeyana, spatial expression of the gene product in A. willeyana and genomic architecture of the gene in the re

SUBMITTER: Jackson DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3163562 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature