Kitzmann Peter, Weißkopf Matthias, Schacht Magdalena Ines, Bucher Gregor
Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, GZMB, Universität Göttingen, Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
Development. 2017 Aug 15;144(16):2969-2981. doi: 10.1242/dev.147637. Epub 2017 Jul 25.
Anterior patterning of animals is based on a set of highly conserved transcription factors but the interactions within the protostome anterior gene regulatory network (aGRN) remain enigmatic. Here, we identify the red flour beetle ortholog of () as a novel upstream component of the aGRN. It is required for the development of the labrum and higher order brain structures, namely the central complex and the mushroom bodies. We reveal interactions by RNAi and heat shock-mediated misexpression. Surprisingly, and mutually activate each other, forming a novel regulatory module at the top of the aGRN. Comparisons of our results with those of sea urchins and cnidarians suggest that has acquired more upstream functions in the aGRN during protostome evolution. Our findings expand the knowledge on gene function to include essential roles in epidermal development and central brain patterning.
动物的前部模式是基于一组高度保守的转录因子,但原口动物前部基因调控网络(aGRN)内的相互作用仍然不明。在这里,我们鉴定出红粉甲虫中()的直系同源物作为aGRN的一个新的上游组分。它对于上唇和更高级脑结构(即中央复合体和蘑菇体)的发育是必需的。我们通过RNA干扰和热休克介导的错误表达揭示了相互作用。令人惊讶的是,和相互激活,在aGRN的顶部形成一个新的调控模块。将我们的结果与海胆和刺胞动物的结果进行比较表明,在原口动物进化过程中,在aGRN中获得了更多的上游功能。我们的发现扩展了关于基因功能的知识,将其包括在表皮发育和中枢脑模式形成中的重要作用。