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Evolutionary origin of Hoxc13-dependent skin appendages in amphibians

Author

Listed:
  • Marjolein Carron

    (Ghent University
    Ghent University Hospital)

  • Attila Placido Sachslehner

    (Medical University of Vienna)

  • Munevver Burcu Cicekdal

    (Ghent University
    Ghent University Hospital)

  • Inge Bruggeman

    (Ghent University
    VIB-Ugent Center for Inflammation Research)

  • Suzan Demuynck

    (Ghent University)

  • Bahar Golabi

    (Medical University of Vienna)

  • Elfride Baere

    (Ghent University Hospital)

  • Wim Declercq

    (Ghent University
    VIB-Ugent Center for Inflammation Research)

  • Erwin Tschachler

    (Medical University of Vienna)

  • Kris Vleminckx

    (Ghent University)

  • Leopold Eckhart

    (Medical University of Vienna)

Abstract

Cornified skin appendages, such as hair and nails, are major evolutionary innovations of terrestrial vertebrates. Human hair and nails consist largely of special intermediate filament proteins, known as hair keratins, which are expressed under the control of the transcription factor Hoxc13. Here, we show that the cornified claws of Xenopus frogs contain homologs of hair keratins and the genes encoding these keratins are flanked by promoters in which binding sites of Hoxc13 are conserved. Furthermore, these keratins and Hoxc13 are co-expressed in the claw-forming epithelium of frog toe tips. Upon deletion of hoxc13, the expression of hair keratin homologs is abolished and the development of cornified claws is abrogated in X. tropicalis. These results indicate that Hoxc13-dependent expression of hair keratin homologs evolved already in stem tetrapods, presumably as a mechanism for protecting toe tips, and that this ancestral genetic program was coopted to the growth of hair in mammals.

Suggested Citation

  • Marjolein Carron & Attila Placido Sachslehner & Munevver Burcu Cicekdal & Inge Bruggeman & Suzan Demuynck & Bahar Golabi & Elfride Baere & Wim Declercq & Erwin Tschachler & Kris Vleminckx & Leopold Ec, 2024. "Evolutionary origin of Hoxc13-dependent skin appendages in amphibians," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46373-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46373-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Axel Meyer & Siegfried Schloissnig & Paolo Franchini & Kang Du & Joost M. Woltering & Iker Irisarri & Wai Yee Wong & Sergej Nowoshilow & Susanne Kneitz & Akane Kawaguchi & Andrej Fabrizius & Peiwen Xi, 2021. "Giant lungfish genome elucidates the conquest of land by vertebrates," Nature, Nature, vol. 590(7845), pages 284-289, February.
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