Genomic analysis of the tryptome reveals molecular mechanisms of gland cell evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the drivers of morphological diversity is a persistent challenge in evolutionary biology. Here, we investigate functional diversification of secretory cells in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis to understand the mechanisms promoting cellular specialization across animals.

Results

We demonstrate regionalized expression of gland cell subtypes in the internal ectoderm of N. vectensis and show that adult gland cell identity is acquired very early in development. A phylogenetic survey of trypsins across animals suggests that this gene family has undergone numerous expansions. We reveal unexpected diversity in trypsin protein structure and show that trypsin diversity arose through independent acquisitions of non-trypsin domains. Finally,

SUBMITTER: Babonis LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6767649 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature