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>...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2010-09-01
|
Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/280 |
id |
doaj-cfb254182bfd411d9f73fcf7749f0837 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT boutetagnes theitwtxamer1itgenefamilyevolutionsignatureandfunction AT comaiglenda theitwtxamer1itgenefamilyevolutionsignatureandfunction AT schedlandreas theitwtxamer1itgenefamilyevolutionsignatureandfunction AT boutetagnes itwtxamer1itgenefamilyevolutionsignatureandfunction AT comaiglenda itwtxamer1itgenefamilyevolutionsignatureandfunction AT schedlandreas itwtxamer1itgenefamilyevolutionsignatureandfunction |
_version_ |
1721176934579175424 |