title: PCR survey of Xenoturbella bocki Hox genes.
abstract: Xenoturbella bocki has recently been identified as one of the most basal deuterostomes, although an even more basal phylogenetic position cannot be ruled out. Here we report on a polymerase chain reaction survey of partial Hox homeobox sequences of X. bocki. Surprisingly, we did not find evidence for more than five Hox genes, one clear labial/PG1 ortholog, one posterior gene most similar to the PG9/10 genes of Ambulacraria, and three central group genes whose precise assignment to a specific paralog group remains open. We furthermore report on a re-evaluation of the available published evidence of Hox genes in other basal deuterostomes.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fritzsch
authors.forename: Manja U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Böhme
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thorndyke
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Israelsson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stach
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlegel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hankeln
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Stadler
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal