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Differential expression pattern of two Brachyury genes in amphioxus embryos.
Liang Yuan1, Yiquan Wang2, Guang Li2
1State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiangan District, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China; School of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Saybagh District, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830054, China.
Gene Expression Patterns : GEP
|October 29, 2020
Summary
Amphioxus Brachyury genes AmphiBra1 and AmphiBra2 show distinct embryonic expression patterns after gene duplication. AmphiBra2 exhibits higher expression levels and broader localization than AmphiBra1.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary genetics
- Chordate embryogenesis
Background:
- Cephalochordate amphioxus possess two Brachyury genes, AmphiBra1 and AmphiBra2.
- Previous studies investigated combined expression profiles, but not individual gene patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the distinct embryonic expression patterns of AmphiBra1 and AmphiBra2 in amphioxus.
- To understand the functional divergence of duplicated Brachyury genes.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) for expression levels.
- In situ hybridization using probes from divergent untranslated regions for spatial patterns.
- Analysis of embryonic sections.
Main Results:
- AmphiBra2 shows low maternal expression, while AmphiBra1 does not.
- Both genes are zygotically activated at the early gastrula stage with similar temporal patterns.
- AmphiBra2 exhibits significantly higher expression levels than AmphiBra1 throughout embryogenesis.
- AmphiBra2 is expressed in the blastopore, tail bud, and notochord; AmphiBra1 expression is restricted to the notochord.
Conclusions:
- The duplicated Brachyury genes, AmphiBra1 and AmphiBra2, have evolved divergent embryonic expression profiles in amphioxus.
- These differences suggest subfunctionalization or neofunctionalization following gene duplication.
