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Related Experiment Videos

Hox clusters and bilaterian phylogeny.

Guillaume Balavoine1, Renaud de Rosa, André Adoutte

  • 1Centre de Génétique Moléculaire du CNRS, UPR 3167, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. guillaume.balavoine@cgm.cnrs-gif.fr

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
|September 11, 2002
PubMed
Summary

The evolution of the Hox gene cluster in bilaterians involved gene duplications, originating from a smaller ancestral cluster. Specific conserved sequences within these genes provide key evidence for the evolutionary relationships among animal phyla.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Comparative genomics
  • Animal phylogeny

Background:

  • The Hox gene cluster, essential for animal development, has undergone significant evolution.
  • A large Hox cluster of at least seven genes arose through gene duplications in bilaterian ancestors.
  • Evidence suggests a smaller, ancestral mini-cluster predates cnidarian and bilaterian divergence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary history and structural conservation of the Hox gene cluster.
  • To identify conserved sequence motifs within Hox genes as phylogenetic markers.
  • To clarify the evolutionary relationships and monophyly of major animal groups, including protostomes.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of Hox gene cluster structures across bilaterian phyla.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Identification and characterization of signature sequences (residues and peptides) within Hox genes.
  • Phylogenetic analysis utilizing conserved Hox gene motifs.

    • Main Results:

    • Hox genes in the anterior part of the cluster exhibit higher conservation than posterior genes.
    • Specific signature sequences within the homeodomain and outside it were identified.
    • These conserved motifs provide strong phylogenetic evidence for protostome monophyly and their subdivision into ecdysozoans and lophotrochozoans.

    Conclusions:

    • The Hox cluster's evolution involved gene duplications from a smaller ancestral unit.
    • Conserved Hox gene sequences serve as robust markers for animal phylogeny.
    • These findings aid in resolving the phylogenetic positions of challenging, enigmatic phyla.