The WTX/AMER1 gene family: evolution, signature and function
Agnès Boutet1, Glenda Comai, Andreas Schedl
1INSERM, U636, F-06108 Nice, France.
BMC Evolutionary Biology
|September 17, 2010
Summary
Researchers identified two new WTX-related proteins, AMER2 and AMER3, revealing a vertebrate-specific gene family. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary role of the Amer gene family in vertebrates.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- WTX (Wilms' tumor gene on the X chromosome) is a novel gene implicated in Wilms' tumors and sclerosing bone dysplasia.
- WTX functions as an antagonist of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, a crucial pathway in development and cancer.
- WTX localizes to paraspeckles, intranuclear structures, but its evolutionary history and paralogs remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel WTX paralogs and investigate the phylogenetic history of the WTX gene family.
- To understand the evolutionary origins and diversification of the Amer gene family within the vertebrate lineage.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the amino-acid sequence of WTX/AMER1 for orthology and paralogy assignment.
- Conducted phylogenetic analysis across available vertebrate genome sequences.
- Identified conserved sequence blocks within the Amer gene family.
Main Results:
- Discovered two novel WTX-related proteins, AMER2 and AMER3.
- Established the presence of the Amer gene family in all analyzed vertebrate genomes, but not in invertebrates.
- Phylogenetic analysis indicates the proto-Amer gene originated early in vertebrate evolution and expanded through whole genome duplications (WGD).
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first phylogenetic analysis of Amer genes, identifying a novel vertebrate-specific gene family.
- The Amer gene family likely played a significant role in vertebrate evolution.
- Discusses the divergent and conserved molecular functions of Wtx/Amer1, Amer2, and Amer3.
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