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McGonnell et al, 2011 (Alx3 evolution).pdf (790.99 kB)

Evolution of the Alx homeobox gene family: parallel retention and independent loss of the vertebrate Alx3 gene

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posted on 2023-06-09, 02:17 authored by Imelda M McGonnell, Anthony Graham, Joanna Richardson, Jennifer L Fish, Michael J Depew, Chris T Dee, Peter WH Holland, Tokiharu Takahashi
The Alx gene family is implicated in craniofacial development and comprises two to four homeobox genes in each vertebrate genome analyzed. Using phylogenetics and comparative genomics, we show that the common ancestor of jawed vertebrates had three Alx genes descendent from the two-round genome duplications (Alx1, Alx3, Alx4), compared with a single amphioxus gene. Later in evolution one of the paralogues, Alx3, was lost independently from at least three different vertebrate lineages, whereas Alx1 and Alx4 were consistently retained. Comparison of spatial gene expression patterns reveals that the three mouse genes have equivalent craniofacial expression to the two chick and frog genes, suggesting that redundancy compensated for gene loss. We suggest that multiple independent loss of one Alx gene was predisposed by extensive and persistent overlap in gene expression between Alx paralogues. Even so, it is unclear whether it was coincidence or evolutionary bias that resulted in the same Alx gene being lost on each occasion, rather than different members of the gene family.

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Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Evolution and Development

ISSN

1520-541X

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

4

Volume

13

Page range

343-351

Department affiliated with

  • Biochemistry Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-07-28

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-07-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-07-27

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