Gene structure and function of tyrosine kinases in the marine sponge Geodia cydonium: Autapomorphic characters of Metazoa

Müller, Werner; Kruse, Michael; Blumbach, Barbara; Skorokhod, Alexander; Müller, Isabel M.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1119(99)00226-7

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Furthermore, the gene corresponding to the GCBHP1 cDNA was obtained by PCR cloning from the genomic library from G. cydonium (Gamulin et al 1997) as described (Müller et al 1999d). The positions of the primers used are indicated in Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From earlier studies with genes from sponges, it is known that those molecules comprise a smaller number of introns (if any) than the comparable genes from higher Metazoa, e.g., the receptor tyrosine kinase (Gamulin et al 1997;Müller et al 1999d) or protein kinase C (Seack et al 1998). Based on these data, experimental evidence for the intron-late theory in Metazoa was provided (Gamulin et al 1997;Müller et al 1999d).…”

Section: Gene Structure Of the G Cydonium Bcl-2 Homologous Proteinmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Evolution of Apoptotic Pathways: Cloning of Key Domains from Sponges (Bcl-2 Homology Domains and Death Domains) and Their Phylogenetic Relationships

et al. 2000

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Cells from metazoan organisms are eliminated in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes by apoptosis. In this report, we describe the cloning and characterization of molecules from the marine sponges Geodia cydonium and Suberites domuncula, whose domains show a high similarity to those that are found in molecules of the vertebrate Bcl-2 superfamily and of the death receptors. The Bcl-2 proteins contain up to four Bcl-2 homology regions (BH). Two Bcl-2-related molecules have been identified from sponges that are provided with two of those regions, BH1 and BH2, and are termed Bcl-2 homology proteins (BHP). The G. cydonium molecule, BHP1_GC, has a putative size of 28,164, while the related sequence from S. domuncula, BHP1_SD, has a M(r) of 24,187. Phylogenetic analyses of the entire two sponge BHPs revealed a high similarity to members of the mammalian Bcl-2 superfamilies and to the Caenorhabditis elegans Ced-9. When the two domains, BH1 and BH2, are analyzed separately, again the highest similarity was found to the members of the Bcl-2 superfamily, but a clearly lower relationship to the C. elegans BH1 and BH2 domains in Ced-9. In unrooted phylogenetic trees the sponge BH1 and BH2 are grouped among the mammalian sequences and are only distantly related to the C. elegans BH domains. The analysis of the gene structure of the G. cydonium BHP showed that the single intron present is located within the BH2 domain at the same position as in C. elegans and rat Bcl-x(L). In addition, a sponge molecule comprising two death domains has been characterized from G. cydonium. The two death domains of the potential proapoptotic molecule GC_DD2, M(r) 24,970, share a high similarity with the Fas-FADD/MORT1 domains. A death domain-containing molecule has not been identified in the C. elegans genome. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sponge domain originated from an ankyrin building block from which the mammalian Fas-FADD/MORT1 evolved. It is suggested that the apoptotic pathways that involve members of the Bcl-2 superfamily and of the death receptors are already present in the lowest metazoan phylum, the Porifera.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gene Structure Of the G Cydonium Bcl-2 Homologous Proteinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Evolution of Apoptotic Pathways: Cloning of Key Domains from Sponges (Bcl-2 Homology Domains and Death Domains) and Their Phylogenetic Relationships

et al. 2000

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“…A good start has already been made (42)(43)(44)(45). Following the same reasoning as above, comparison of diploblasts vs. bilateria gene content should enable us to characterize the basal metazoan genome and hence the one from which the urbilaterian was progressively constructed.…”

Section: The Gist Of Supporting Evidence From Hoxmentioning

confidence: 97%

The new animal phylogeny: Reliability and implications

Adoutte

Balavoine

Lartillot

et al. 2000

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

465

275

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DNA sequence analysis dictates new interpretation of phylogenic trees. Taxa that were once thought to represent successive grades of complexity at the base of the metazoan tree are being displaced to much higher positions inside the tree. This leaves no evolutionary ''intermediates'' and forces us to rethink the genesis of bilaterian complexity.A deep reorganization of the metazoan phylogenetic tree is presently taking place as a result of the input of molecular data. Far from being an exercise confined to a small circle of aficionados, the changing views on the pattern of animal interrelationships has profound consequences for understanding the underlying processes of animal diversification. As has repeatedly been stressed, we shall never be able to reason on the evolution of development and the way it has shaped animal diversity unless we have a reliable history of the path taken by this diversification. Here, we highlight the salient recent results based on genetic data, especially the displacement of taxa long thought to represent successive grades of complexity at the base of the metazoan tree, to much higher positions inside the tree. This leaves us with no evolutionary ''intermediates'' and forces us to rethink the genesis of bilaterian complexity. The reappraisal of animal evolution rests on several congruent approaches ranging from primary gene sequence analysis to qualitative molecular signatures within appropriate genes. Each of them, however, has its methodological difficulties; we shall, therefore, also try to briefly pinpoint the issues of contention and discuss the strength of the present view.Preliminary Comments on the Reliability of Phylogenetic Trees. To an outsider, the field of phylogenetic reconstruction may appear to be full of controversies and uncertainties. There have been acrimonious debates over the best methodology to use for reconstruction (phenetics vs. cladistics) and over the relative merits of morphological vs. molecular data. Worst of all, contradictory trees have kept pouring in, often with insufficient critical assessment. Obviously, we cannot review the whole field here, but we wish to emphasize three points to justify our reasoned optimism and confidence in the recent molecular phylogenies.

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“…The high degree of conservation of the tyrosine kinase motifs has allowed the identi®cation of tyrosine kinase genes in most metazoan phyla. Tyrosine kinase genes have been characterized in poriferans, cnidarians, nematodes, annelids, arthropods, echinoderms, and chordates (Suga et al, 1999;Muller et al, 1999;Miller et al, 2000;Rikke et al, 2000;Lucini et al, 1999;Sakuma et al, 1997). These sequences provide an extensive set of probes to investigate the genomic sequences of other species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%