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Homologs of vascular endothelial growth factor and receptor, VEGF and VEGFR, in the jellyfish Podocoryne carnea
Author(s) -
Seipel Katka,
Eberhardt Michael,
Müller Peter,
Pescia Elena,
Yanze Nathalie,
Schmid Volker
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20139
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , angiogenesis , cnidaria , vascular endothelial growth factor , tentacle (botany) , bilateria , kinase insert domain receptor , jellyfish , endoderm , receptor tyrosine kinase , vascular endothelial growth factor a , anatomy , signal transduction , genetics , vegf receptors , cancer research , gene , cellular differentiation , ecology , coral , phylogenetic tree
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) are the major inducers of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in vertebrates. Their effects are mediated by receptor tyrosine kinases of the VEGF receptor (VEGFR) family located on endothelial cells and include stimulation of cell survival, proliferation, migration, and tube formation as well as regulation of vascular permeability. Here, we report the presence of VEGF and VEGFR homologous genes in a basal invertebrate of the phylum Cnidaria. The marine jellyfish Podocoryne carnea features a gastrovascular system consisting of the feeding organ, or manubrium, the radial and ring canals, and the tentacle bulbs. Expression analysis indicates that both genes are involved in tentacle and gastrovascular canal formation, indicating an early recruitment of the VEGF signalling pathway for morphogenetic processes leading to tube formation in metazoans. The evolutionary origin of the VEGF signalling pathway resides in the common ancestor of the Cnidaria and Bilateria. Developmental Dynamics 231:303–312, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.