Hughes S, Woollard A
Faculteit Techniek, Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, Laan van Scheut 2, 6503 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;962:3-18. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-3233-2_1.
Runx genes have been identified in all metazoans and considerable conservation of function observed across a wide range of phyla. Thus, insight gained from studying simple model organisms is invaluable in understanding RUNX biology in higher animals. Consequently, this chapter will focus on the Runx genes in the diploblasts, which includes sea anemones and sponges, as well as the lower triploblasts, including the sea urchin, nematode, planaria and insect. Due to the high degree of functional redundancy amongst vertebrate Runx genes, simpler model organisms with a solo Runx gene, like C. elegans, are invaluable systems in which to probe the molecular basis of RUNX function within a whole organism. Additionally, comparative analyses of Runx sequence and function allows for the development of novel evolutionary insights. Strikingly, recent data has emerged that reveals the presence of a Runx gene in a protist, demonstrating even more widespread occurrence of Runx genes than was previously thought. This review will summarize recent progress in using invertebrate organisms to investigate RUNX function during development and regeneration, highlighting emerging unifying themes.
在所有后生动物中都已鉴定出Runx基因，并且在广泛的门中都观察到了功能的相当程度的保守性。因此，从研究简单模型生物中获得的见解对于理解高等动物中的RUNX生物学非常宝贵。因此，本章将重点关注双胚层动物中的Runx基因，其中包括海葵和海绵，以及低等三胚层动物，包括海胆、线虫、涡虫和昆虫。由于脊椎动物Runx基因之间存在高度的功能冗余，具有单个Runx基因的更简单模型生物，如秀丽隐杆线虫，是在整个生物体中探究RUNX功能分子基础的宝贵系统。此外，对Runx序列和功能的比较分析有助于形成新的进化见解。引人注目的是，最近出现的数据表明原生生物中存在Runx基因，这表明Runx基因的分布比以前认为的更为广泛。本综述将总结利用无脊椎动物研究发育和再生过程中RUNX功能的最新进展，突出新出现的统一主题。
