Center for Integrative Genomics and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Nature. 2010 Aug 5;466(7307):720-6. doi: 10.1038/nature09201.
Sponges are an ancient group of animals that diverged from other metazoans over 600 million years ago. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Amphimedon queenslandica, a demosponge from the Great Barrier Reef, and show that it is remarkably similar to other animal genomes in content, structure and organization. Comparative analysis enabled by the sequencing of the sponge genome reveals genomic events linked to the origin and early evolution of animals, including the appearance, expansion and diversification of pan-metazoan transcription factor, signalling pathway and structural genes. This diverse 'toolkit' of genes correlates with critical aspects of all metazoan body plans, and comprises cell cycle control and growth, development, somatic- and germ-cell specification, cell adhesion, innate immunity and allorecognition. Notably, many of the genes associated with the emergence of animals are also implicated in cancer, which arises from defects in basic processes associated with metazoan multicellularity.
海绵动物是一类古老的动物，它们在 6 亿多年前就从其他后生动物中分化出来了。在这里，我们呈现了来自大堡礁的寻常海绵（Amphimedon queenslandica）的基因组草图序列，它与其他动物基因组在内容、结构和组织上非常相似。通过对海绵基因组进行测序而进行的比较分析揭示了与动物起源和早期进化相关的基因组事件，包括泛动物转录因子、信号通路和结构基因的出现、扩张和多样化。这个多样化的“基因工具包”与所有后生动物体节的关键方面相关，包括细胞周期控制和生长、发育、体-生殖细胞特化、细胞黏附、先天免疫和同种异体识别。值得注意的是，许多与动物出现相关的基因也与癌症有关，癌症是由与后生动物多细胞性相关的基本过程的缺陷引起的。
