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Unexpected complexity of the Wnt gene family in a sea anemone

Author

Listed:
  • Arne Kusserow

    (Darmstadt University of Technology)

  • Kevin Pang

    (Kewalo Marine Lab PBRC, University of Hawaii)

  • Carsten Sturm

    (Darmstadt University of Technology)

  • Martina Hrouda

    (Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck)

  • Jan Lentfer

    (Darmstadt University of Technology)

  • Heiko A. Schmidt

    (John von Neumann-Institut für Computing (NIC), FZ Jülich)

  • Ulrich Technau

    (Darmstadt University of Technology
    Sars Centre)

  • Arndt von Haeseler

    (John von Neumann-Institut für Computing (NIC), FZ Jülich
    Institut für Bioinformatik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1 / Geb. 25.13.02)

  • Bert Hobmayer

    (Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck)

  • Mark Q. Martindale

    (Kewalo Marine Lab PBRC, University of Hawaii)

  • Thomas W. Holstein

    (Darmstadt University of Technology
    University of Heidelberg)

Abstract

Evolution of complexity Wnt proteins are highly conserved signalling molecules that control cell fate in embryogenesis, and have been implicated in human diseases including cancer. The Wnt family is now shown to have unexpectedly deep evolutionary roots in the animal kingdom. The starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis, shown on the cover; photo by Timm Nüchter, Darmstadt) is a member of the cnidaria, a group that includes jellyfish and corals whose origin predates the evolution of bilaterally symmetrical animals. Lowly sea anemones were not expected to have much complexity, but an almost complete set of Wnt genes has now been found in embryos of this sea anemone, performing complex tasks. This ancient patterning system may therefore have provided the springboard for the diversification of body plans known as the Cambrian explosion.

Suggested Citation

  • Arne Kusserow & Kevin Pang & Carsten Sturm & Martina Hrouda & Jan Lentfer & Heiko A. Schmidt & Ulrich Technau & Arndt von Haeseler & Bert Hobmayer & Mark Q. Martindale & Thomas W. Holstein, 2005. "Unexpected complexity of the Wnt gene family in a sea anemone," Nature, Nature, vol. 433(7022), pages 156-160, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:433:y:2005:i:7022:d:10.1038_nature03158
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03158
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    Cited by:

    1. Fangyuan Zhang & Fei Qiu & Junlan Zeng & Zhichao Xu & Yueli Tang & Tengfei Zhao & Yuqin Gou & Fei Su & Shiyi Wang & Xiuli Sun & Zheyong Xue & Weixing Wang & Chunxian Yang & Lingjiang Zeng & Xiaozhong , 2023. "Revealing evolution of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis by analyzing two genomes in the Solanaceae family," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Bob Zimmermann & Juan D. Montenegro & Sofia M. C. Robb & Whitney J. Fropf & Lukas Weilguny & Shuonan He & Shiyuan Chen & Jessica Lovegrove-Walsh & Eric M. Hill & Cheng-Yi Chen & Katerina Ragkousi & Da, 2023. "Topological structures and syntenic conservation in sea anemone genomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.

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