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Embryo Microinjection and Electroporation in the Chordate Ciona intestinalis
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Wnt evolution and function shuffling in liberal and conservative chordate genomes.

Ildikó M L Somorjai1,2, Josep Martí-Solans3, Miriam Diaz-Gracia3

  • 1Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, Scotland, UK. imls@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Genome Biology
|July 27, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Gene loss and function shuffling impact development. Analyzing Wnt genes in chordates reveals evolutionary patterns, ancestral functions, and potential links between WntA evolution and mouth development.

Keywords:
AmphioxusAscidiansChordate WntAFunction shufflingGene lossGenome stasisVertebratesWnt evolution

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology (EvoDevo)
  • Genome evolution
  • Chordate genomics

Background:

  • Investigating the impact of gene loss on developmental processes.
  • Understanding function shuffling in retained genes driving essential biological processes.
  • Utilizing the Wnt ligand repertoire in chordates as a case study for genome evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the evolution of the Wnt ligand repertoire in the chordate phylum.
  • To resolve ambiguities in Wnt gene orthology and identify novel Wnt genes.
  • To create a comprehensive expression atlas for Wnt genes during chordate development.

Main Methods:

  • Exhaustive survey of Wnt genes in genomic databases.
  • Identification and cataloging of Wnt genes across 13 non-vertebrate chordates.
  • Development of a Wnt gene expression atlas during amphioxus development.

Main Results:

  • Identified 156 Wnt genes in 13 non-vertebrate chordates, creating the most complete chordate Wnt gene catalog.
  • Resolved Wnt gene orthology and identified WntA in chordates for the first time.
  • Generated the first complete Wnt expression atlas for amphioxus development.

Conclusions:

  • Cephalochordates exhibit genomic stasis, contrasting with dynamic gene loss/duplication in urochordates.
  • Inferred ancestral Wnt functions, identified function shuffling, and noted lineage-specific innovations.
  • Proposed a link between WntA evolution and the evolution of the mouth in chordates.