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
journal contribution
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 TakahashiThe 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 DevelopmentISSN
1520-541XPublisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
4Volume
13Page range
343-351Department affiliated with
- Biochemistry Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-07-28First Open Access (FOA) Date
2016-07-28First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-07-27Usage metrics
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