The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>WTX </it>is a novel gene mutated in a proportion of Wilms' tumors and in patients suffering from sclerosing bone dysplasia. On the molecular level WTX has been shown to act as an antagonist of canonical <it>...

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Main Authors: Boutet Agnès, Comai Glenda, Schedl Andreas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-09-01
Series:BMC Evolutionary Biology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/280
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spelling doaj-cfb254182bfd411d9f73fcf7749f08372021-09-02T09:47:15ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482010-09-0110128010.1186/1471-2148-10-280The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and functionBoutet AgnèsComai GlendaSchedl Andreas<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>WTX </it>is a novel gene mutated in a proportion of Wilms' tumors and in patients suffering from sclerosing bone dysplasia. On the molecular level WTX has been shown to act as an antagonist of canonical <it>Wnt/β-catenin </it>signaling in fish and mammals thus linking it to an essential pathway involved in normal development and cancer formation. Interestingly, WTX seems to also localize to an intranuclear component called paraspeckles. In spite of the growing interest of molecular biologists in <it>WTX</it>, little is known about its paralogs and its phylogenetic history.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using the amino-acid sequence of <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>as a tool for the assignment of orthology and paralogy, we here identify two novel proteins, <it>AMER2 </it>and <it>AMER3</it>, as "<it>WTX</it>" related. This <it>Amer </it>gene family is present in all currently available vertebrate genome sequences, but not invertebrate genomes and is characterized by six conserved blocks of sequences. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that the <it>protoAmer </it>gene originated early in the vertebrate lineage and was then duplicated due to whole genome duplications (WGD) giving rise to the three different <it>Amer </it>genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study represents the first phylogenetic analysis of <it>Amer </it>genes and reveals a new vertebrate specific gene family that is likely to have played an important role in the evolution of this subphylum. Divergent and conserved molecular functions of <it>Wtx/Amer1</it>, <it>Amer2 </it>and <it>Amer3 </it>are discussed.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/280
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Boutet Agnès
Comai Glenda
Schedl Andreas
spellingShingle Boutet Agnès
Comai Glenda
Schedl Andreas
The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
BMC Evolutionary Biology
author_facet Boutet Agnès
Comai Glenda
Schedl Andreas
author_sort Boutet Agnès
title The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
title_short The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
title_full The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
title_fullStr The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
title_full_unstemmed The <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
title_sort <it>wtx/amer1 </it>gene family: evolution, signature and function
publisher BMC
series BMC Evolutionary Biology
issn 1471-2148
publishDate 2010-09-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>WTX </it>is a novel gene mutated in a proportion of Wilms' tumors and in patients suffering from sclerosing bone dysplasia. On the molecular level WTX has been shown to act as an antagonist of canonical <it>Wnt/β-catenin </it>signaling in fish and mammals thus linking it to an essential pathway involved in normal development and cancer formation. Interestingly, WTX seems to also localize to an intranuclear component called paraspeckles. In spite of the growing interest of molecular biologists in <it>WTX</it>, little is known about its paralogs and its phylogenetic history.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using the amino-acid sequence of <it>WTX/AMER1 </it>as a tool for the assignment of orthology and paralogy, we here identify two novel proteins, <it>AMER2 </it>and <it>AMER3</it>, as "<it>WTX</it>" related. This <it>Amer </it>gene family is present in all currently available vertebrate genome sequences, but not invertebrate genomes and is characterized by six conserved blocks of sequences. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that the <it>protoAmer </it>gene originated early in the vertebrate lineage and was then duplicated due to whole genome duplications (WGD) giving rise to the three different <it>Amer </it>genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study represents the first phylogenetic analysis of <it>Amer </it>genes and reveals a new vertebrate specific gene family that is likely to have played an important role in the evolution of this subphylum. Divergent and conserved molecular functions of <it>Wtx/Amer1</it>, <it>Amer2 </it>and <it>Amer3 </it>are discussed.</p>
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/280
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