title: Hox and paraHox genes in bivalve molluscs.
abstract: In this study, we sought the presence and analysed the sequences of the Hox and ParaHox genes in bivalve molluscs. The clustered Hox genes play a central role in anterior-posterior axial patterning in bilaterian metazoa, whereas the ParaHox gene cluster is a paralogue (evolutionary sister) of the Hox cluster. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches, we isolated nine different sequences in five species belonging to three of the main bivalve subclasses: Ensis ensis and Tapes philippinarum (Heterodonta), Pecten maximus and Mytilus galloprovincialis (Pteriomorphia), and Yoldia eightsi (Protobranchia). Comparison with the Hox and ParaHox genes of other bilaterians, particularly lophotrochozoans, allowed us to attribute six of these sequences to the Hox gene cluster (one to paralog group [PG] 3 class, and five to the central class), two to the ParaHox cluster and one to the Gbx gene family. The results of our investigation seem to indicate that homeotic Hox and ParaHox gene clusters are homogeneous for both presence and characteristics in molluscs.
authors: Istituto di Biologia e Genetica, Facoltà di Scienze, Università degli Studi di Ancona, via Brecce Bianche, I-60131 Ancona, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Barucca
authors: Ettore
authors: E
authors: Olmo
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Canapa
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008974:Mollusca / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D004247:DNA