Comparative genomics of the Hedgehog loci in chordates and the origins of Shh regulatory novelties
- Authors
- Irimia, M., Royo, J.L., Burguera, D., Maeso, I., Gómez-Skarmeta, J.L., and Garcia-Fernandez, J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-120607-13
- Date
- 2012
- Source
- Scientific Reports 2: 433 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Gómez-Skarmeta, José Luis, Maeso, Ignacio, Royo, Jose Luis
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- In Situ Hybridization
- Cloning, Molecular
- Chromosome Mapping
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
- Hedgehog Proteins/genetics*
- Genetic Variation
- Chordata, Nonvertebrate/classification
- Chordata, Nonvertebrate/genetics*
- Genomics/methods*
- Animals
- Species Specificity
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
- Phylogeny
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/embryology
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Synteny
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- PubMed
- 22666536 Full text @ Sci. Rep.
The origin and evolution of the complex regulatory landscapes of some vertebrate developmental genes, often spanning hundreds of Kbp and including neighboring genes, remain poorly understood. The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) genomic regulatory block (GRB) is one of the best functionally characterized examples, with several discrete enhancers reported within its introns, vast upstream gene-free region and neighboring genes (Lmbr1 and Rnf32). To investigate the origin and evolution of this GRB, we sequenced and characterized the Hedgehog (Hh) loci from three invertebrate chordate amphioxus species, which share several early expression domains with Shh. Using phylogenetic footprinting within and between chordate lineages, and reporter assays in zebrafish probing >30Kbp of amphioxus Hh, we report large sequence and functional divergence between both groups. In addition, we show that the linkage of Shh to Lmbr1 and Rnf32, necessary for the unique gnatostomate-specific Shh limb expression, is a vertebrate novelty occurred between the two whole-genome duplications.