Expression of Sox family genes in early lamprey development.
Members of the Sox (Sry-related high mobility group box) family of transcription factors play a variety of roles during development of both vertebrates and invertebrates. A marked expansion in gene number occurred during the emergence of vertebrates, apparently via gene duplication events that are thought to have facilitated new functions. By screening a macroarrayed library as well as the lamprey genome, we have isolated genes of the Sox B, D, E and F subfamilies in the basal jawless vertebrate, lamprey.  The expression patterns of all identified Sox genes were examined from gastrulation through early organogenesis (embryonic day 4-14), with particular emphasis on the neural crest, a vertebrate innovation. Coupled with phylogenetic analysis of these Sox genes, the results provide insight into gene duplication and di-vergence in paralog deployment occurring during early vertebrate evolution.
Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Benjamin R
BR
Uy
Marcos
M
Simoes-Costa
Tatjana
T
Sauka-Spengler
Marianne E
ME
Bronner
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007798:Lampreys / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors