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Amphioxus AmphiDelta : evolution of delta protein structure, segmentation, and neurogenesis
Author(s) -
Rasmussen Stacy L. K.,
Holland Linda Z.,
Schubert Michael,
BeasterJones Laura,
Holland Nicholas D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.20278
Subject(s) - ectoderm , endoderm , biology , neurogenesis , mesoderm , neural tube , microbiology and biotechnology , vertebrate , organogenesis , anatomy , gene , embryogenesis , genetics , embryo , embryonic stem cell
The amphioxus genome has a single Delta gene ( AmphiDelta ) encoding a protein 766 amino acids long. Comparison of Delta proteins of amphioxus and other animals indicates that AmphiDelta retains features of a basal bilaterian Delta protein—in having nine epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats and also in having characteristic numbers of amino acids separating successive cysteines between and within EGF repeats. During development, AmphiDelta is expressed in the forming somites, in some regions of pharyngeal endoderm, and in cells (presumably differentiating neurons) scattered in both the neural plate and ectoderm. Expression is strongly associated with cells initiating movements to separate themselves from parent epithelia, either en masse by evagination (endoderm and mesoderm) or by delamination as isolated cells (ectoderm). The AmphiDelta ‐expressing cells delaminating from the ectoderm apparently migrate beneath it as they begin differentiating into probable sensory neurons, suggesting a scenario for the evolutionary origin of the placode‐derived neurons of vertebrate cranial ganglia. genesis 45:113–122, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.