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A Small Change With a Twist Ending: A Single Residue in EGF-CFC Drives Bilaterian Asymmetry.
- Source :
- Molecular Biology & Evolution; Feb2023, Vol. 40 Issue 2, p1-15, 15p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Asymmetries are essential for proper organization and function of organ systems. Genetic studies in bilaterians have shown signaling through the Nodal/Smad2 pathway plays a key, conserved role in the establishment of body asymmetries. Although the main molecular players in the network for the establishment of left-right asymmetry (LRA) have been deeply described in deuterostomes, little is known about the regulation of Nodal signaling in spiralians. Here, we identified orthologs of the egf-cfc gene, a master regulator of the Nodal pathway in vertebrates, in several invertebrate species, which includes the first evidence of its presence in non-deuterostomes. Our functional experiments indicate that despite being present, egf-cfc does not play a role in the establishment of LRA in gastropods. However, experiments in zebrafish suggest that a single amino acid mutation in the egf-cfc gene in at least the common ancestor of chordates was the necessary step to induce a gain of function in LRA regulation. This study shows that the egf-cfc gene likely appeared in the ancestors of deuterostomes and "protostomes", before being adopted as a mechanism to regulate the Nodal pathway and the establishment of LRA in some lineages of deuterostomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- EIGENFUNCTIONS
CHORDATA
AMINO acids
BRACHYDANIO
GENETIC mutation
SPECIES
ZEBRA danio
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 07374038
- Volume :
- 40
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Molecular Biology & Evolution
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 162130612
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msac270