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Polarity factor ‘Frizzled’ in the demosponge Suberites domuncula : identification, expression and localization of the receptor in the epithelium/pinacoderm 1
Author(s) -
Adell Teresa,
Nefkens Isabelle,
Müller Werner E.G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)01190-6
Subject(s) - frizzled , sponge , biology , wnt signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , polarity (international relations) , cell polarity , signal transduction , genetics , botany , cell
Until recently, it was assumed that polarity and axis formation have evolved only in metazoan phyla higher than Cnidaria. One key molecule involved in the signal transduction causing tissue polarity is Frizzled, a seven‐transmembrane receptor that is activated by the Wnt family of secreted proteins. We report the isolation and characterization of a Frizzled gene from the demosponge Suberites domuncula ( Sd‐Fz ). The deduced polypeptide comprises all characteristic domains known from Frizzled receptors of higher metazoans. In situ hybridization studies show that Sd‐Fz is expressed in cells close to the surface of the sponges and in the pinacocytes of some canals. Northern blot analysis demonstrates its upregulation during the formation of three‐dimensional sponge cell aggregates in culture. These data provide for the first time experimental evidence that already in the lowest metazoan phylum (Porifera) genes are present which are very likely involved in tissue polarity.