Genes encoding Wnt ligands, which have important roles in cell communication and organ development, are restricted to multicellular animals. We systematically studied W nt genes from eumetazoan genomes, with emphasis ...Genes encoding Wnt ligands, which have important roles in cell communication and organ development, are restricted to multicellular animals. We systematically studied W nt genes from eumetazoan genomes, with emphasis on the poorly studied superphylum Lophotrochozoa(four annelids, seven mollusks, eight platyhelminths, one bdelloid rotifer, and one brachiopod species). Between 3 and 39 W nt loci were identified in each genome, and the protostome-specific loss of Wnt3 genes was confirmed. We identified gastropod-specific loss of Wnt8, refining the previously proposed mollusk-specific loss. Some duplicated Wnt genes belonging to a same subfamily or closely related subfamilies showed tandem distribution in the lophotrochozoan genomes, indicating tandem duplication events during Wnt family evolution. Members of the conserved Wnt10-Wnt6-Wnt1-Wnt9 cluster showed highly correlated expression patterns over time in two assayed lophotrochozoans, the oyster C rassostrea gigas and the brachiopod L ingula anatina, reflecting the possible similar function of the clustered W nt genes.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31402285,31530079)the Scientific and Technological Innovation Project financially supported by the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(No.2015ASKJ02)the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System(No.CARS-48)
文摘Genes encoding Wnt ligands, which have important roles in cell communication and organ development, are restricted to multicellular animals. We systematically studied W nt genes from eumetazoan genomes, with emphasis on the poorly studied superphylum Lophotrochozoa(four annelids, seven mollusks, eight platyhelminths, one bdelloid rotifer, and one brachiopod species). Between 3 and 39 W nt loci were identified in each genome, and the protostome-specific loss of Wnt3 genes was confirmed. We identified gastropod-specific loss of Wnt8, refining the previously proposed mollusk-specific loss. Some duplicated Wnt genes belonging to a same subfamily or closely related subfamilies showed tandem distribution in the lophotrochozoan genomes, indicating tandem duplication events during Wnt family evolution. Members of the conserved Wnt10-Wnt6-Wnt1-Wnt9 cluster showed highly correlated expression patterns over time in two assayed lophotrochozoans, the oyster C rassostrea gigas and the brachiopod L ingula anatina, reflecting the possible similar function of the clustered W nt genes.
