A genome-wide survey of the genes for planar polarity signaling or convergent extension-related genes in Ciona intestinalis and phylogenetic comparisons of evolutionary conserved signaling components.
Non-canonical Wnt signals similar to planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling in the fly control convergent extension (CE) of the dorsal mesoderm during gastrulation in vertebrates. Using the Ciona complete genome sequence and EST sequence data, we present here an initial and exhaustive search in non-vertebrate chordates, Ciona intestinalis for the family members as well as homologs or orthologs that are involved in PCP/CE signaling cascades. We clarified 7 cardinal gene families, including the MAPK, STE20 group kinase, Rho small GTPase, STAT, Glypican, Fz and Wnt gene families, as well as gene homologs or orthologs for known PCP/CE signaling components with their phylogenetic nature. As a result, we characterized 62 Ciona component genes. Among them, 59 genes were novel and functional genes which were supported by EST expressions and 15 genes belonged to PCP/CE component orthologs of other organisms or common ancestor genes. Moreover, from the phylogenetic point of view, we compared these components genome-widely with the PCP signaling components of fly and the CE signaling components of vertebrates. We then discovered not only that ascidians contain the basic ancestral signaling pathway components in chordates but also that several signaling components have not found in ascidian, indicating that ascidian CE pathway might have several gaps from vertebrate CE pathway. The present study provides an initial step for the subsequent analysis of CE in the non-vertebrate chordates, ascidians. In addition, this phylogenetic approach will help to facilitate understanding of the relationship between fly PCP signaling and the vertebrate CE pathway.
Hotta
Kohji
K
Center for Information Biology and DDBJ, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.
Takahashi
Hiroki
H
Ueno
Naoto
N
Gojobori
Takashi
T
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000235:genetics; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000072261:Dishevelled Proteins; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D016678:Genome; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014714:Vertebrates; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072261:Dishevelled Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; C111638:Vang protein, Drosophila; C121600:pk protein, Drosophila; C113875:msn protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins