title: POU genes in metazoans: homologs in sea anemones, snails, and earthworms.
abstract: Previously undescribed POU genes were detected in several invertebrate phyla using redundant primers in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that targeted highly conserved sequences encoding known POU-domains. A class IV gene and a gene tentatively assigned to class VI were identified in sea anemones (Condylactis), two distinct class III genes were identified in snails (Biomphalaria), and a single class IV gene was identified in earthworms (Lumbricus). The identification of POU genes in cnidarians, mollusks, and annelids completes a survey of the major metozoan phyla. As POU genes exist in all of these organisms, they appear to be a fundamental characteristic of the metazoan lineage, and may have played a major role in the diversification of these organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aurora
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lance
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stuart
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000235:genetics*; D012908:Snails / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins