PUBLICATION

Genes coding for intermediate filament proteins closely related to the hagfish "thread keratins (TK)" alpha and gamma also exist in lamprey, teleosts and amphibians

Authors
Schaffeld, M., and Schultess, J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-090210-1
Date
2006
Source
Experimental cell research   312(9): 1447-1462 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Thread keratin, Evolution, hagfish, Lamprey, Zebrafish, Xenopus, Cephalochordates, Urochordates, Gene structure, Branchiostoma, Styela
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amphibians/genetics*
  • Amphibians/growth & development
  • Animals
  • DNA, Complementary/chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary/genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Exons/genetics
  • Female
  • Fishes/genetics*
  • Fishes/growth & development
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hagfishes/genetics*
  • Hagfishes/growth & development
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins/genetics*
  • Introns/genetics
  • Keratins/analysis
  • Keratins/genetics*
  • Keratins/physiology
  • Lampreys/genetics*
  • Lampreys/growth & development
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Isoforms/analysis
  • Protein Isoforms/genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Xenopus/genetics
  • Zebrafish/genetics
PubMed
16494865 Full text @ Exp. Cell Res.
Abstract
The "thread keratins (TK)" alpha and gamma so far have been considered highly specialized intermediate filament (IF) proteins restricted to hagfish. From lamprey, we now have sequenced five novel IF proteins closely related to TKalpha and TKgamma, respectively. Moreover, we have detected corresponding sequences in EST and genomic databases of teleosts and amphibians. The structure of the TKalpha genes and the positions of their deduced amino acid sequences in a phylogenetic tree clearly support their classification as type II keratins. The genes encoding TKgamma show a structure typical for type III IF proteins, whereas their positions in phylogenetic trees favor a close relationship to the type I keratins. Considering that most keratin-like sequences detected in the lancelet also exhibit a gene structure typical for type III IF proteins, it seems likely that the keratin gene(s) originated from an ancient type III IF protein gene. According to EST analyses, the expression of the thread keratins in teleost fish and amphibians may be particularly restricted to larval stages, which, in conjunction with the observed absence of TKalpha and TKgamma genes in any of the available Amniota databases, indicates a thread keratin function closely related to larval development in an aquatic environment.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping