Genomic inventory and expression of Sox and Fox genes in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis
Abstract
The Sox and Forkhead (Fox) gene families are comprised of transcription factors that play important roles in a variety of developmental processes, including germ layer specification, gastrulation, cell fate determination, and morphogenesis. Both the Sox and Fox gene families are divided into subgroups based on the amino acid sequence of their respective DNA-binding domains, the high-mobility group (HMG) box (Sox genes) or Forkhead domain (Fox genes). Utilizing the draft genome sequence of the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis, we examined the genomic complement of Sox and Fox genes in this organism to gain insight into the nature of these gene families in a basal metazoan. We identified 14 Sox genes and 15 Fox genes in Nematostella and conducted a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis comparing HMG box and Forkhead domain sequences from Nematostella with diverse taxa. We found that the majority of bilaterian Sox groups have clear Nematostella orthologs, while only a minority of Fox groups are represented, suggesting that the evolutionary pressures driving the diversification of these gene families may be distinct from one another. In addition, we examined the expression of a subset of these genes during development in Nematostella and found that some of these genes are expressed in patterns consistent with roles in germ layer specification and the regulation of cellular behaviors important for gastrulation. The diversity of expression patterns among members of these gene families in Nematostella reinforces the notion that despite their relatively simple morphology, cnidarians possess much of the molecular complexity observed in bilaterian taxa.
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Of the 14 Sox genes present in Nematostella and Hydra, SoxB(2) is expressed in single cells during gastrulation.
“Of the 14 Sox genes present in Nematostella and Hydra [17,24,47,70], one gene, SoxB(2) (termed SoxB2 in reference [24] and SoxBa in reference [71]), is expressed in single cells during gastrulation, consistent with a role in neuronal differentiation [24].”
From Evolution of eumetazoan nervous systems: insights from cnidarians (2015) · cites this paper as [24]
SoxB(2) expression in single cells during gastrulation is consistent with a role in neuronal differentiation.
“is expressed in single cells during gastrulation, consistent with a role in neuronal differentiation [24].”
From Evolution of eumetazoan nervous systems: insights from cnidarians (2015) · cites this paper as [24]
The expression patterns of candidate guidance molecules such as Netrin or RGM do not obviously relate to the observed changes in neurite projections of Elav1-positive neurons.
“In fact, the expression patterns of candidate guidance molecules, such as Netrin or RGM, do not obviously relate to the observed changes in neurite projections of Elav1-positive neurons [24,39].”
From Evolution of eumetazoan nervous systems: insights from cnidarians (2015) · cites this paper as [24]
Some marker genes for the bilaterian CNS (SoxB1 and Nk2.1) are exclusively expressed in the oral nervous system in N. vectensis.
“some of marker genes for bilaterians CNS (that is, SoxB1 and Nk2.1) are exclusively expressed in the oral nervous system in N. vectensis1236.”
From Sequential actions of β-catenin and Bmp pattern the oral nerve net in Nematostella vectensis (2014) · cites this paper as [12]
Fox gene expression in Nematostella and Hydra suggests that the mucociliary epithelium around the gastric opening represents the ancient site of activity of the foxA, B, C, D, E superfamily.
“in Nematostella, foxB [122] and foxA [123] are expressed in the ectodermal ciliated pharynx and foxC [122] in pharyngeal endoderm; in Hydra, foxA/budhead [124] is likewise expressed in the endoderm around the oral opening, suggesting that the mucociliary epithelium around the gastric opening represents the ancient site of activity of the foxA, B, C, D, E superfamily.”
From Gastric pouches and the mucociliary sole: setting the stage for nervous system evolution (2015) · cites this paper as [122]
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References 53 · Cited by 158
- Authors
- Magie, C. R., Pang, K., & Martindale, M. Q.
- Affiliations
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- Corresponding author
- Martindale, Mark Q.
- ORCID
- Martindale, Mark Q.
- Venue
- Development Genes and Evolution
- Published
- 2005-09-29
- Volume
- 215
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 618-630
- ISSN
- 0043-5546 (ISSN-L)
- 0949-944X
- 1432-041X
- OpenAlex
- W2100883860
- Cited by
- 158
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 3.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Development Genes and Evolution (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Keywords
- Sox genes, Fox genes, Nematostella vectensis, Cnidaria, HMG box, forkhead domain, transcription factors, gene family evolution, germ layer specification, gastrulation, gene expression during development, basal metazoans, phylogenetic analysis
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Embryo, Nonmammalian, High Mobility Group Proteins, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Sea Anemones, Sequence Alignment, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Evolution, Molecular, Forkhead Transcription Factors
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