PCR survey of Xenoturbella bocki Hox genes.
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.
Fritzsch
Guido
G
Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse Leipzig, Germany.
Böhme
Manja U
MU
Thorndyke
Mike
M
Nakano
Hiroaki
H
Israelsson
Olle
O
Stach
Thomas
T
Schlegel
Martin
M
Hankeln
Thomas
T
Stadler
Peter F
PF
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
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal