Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 15, 809-819, Copyright © 1998 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
MJ Ferkowicz, MC Stander and RA Raff
The Wnt genes comprise a family of secreted glycoproteins involved in
cell-cell signaling and pattern formation during the development of a
variety of organisms. We have begun to examine Wnt gene expression in sea
urchins that exhibit alternative modes of larval development but produce
similar adults. Here we describe the isolation of five Wnt sequences from
indirect- and direct-developing sea urchin species using a PCR-based
strategy and library screening. Phylogenetic and distance analyses indicate
that the five sequences represent sea urchin Wnt-1, - 4, and -5 orthologs.
Wnt-5 sequences were isolated from three sea urchin species and show a
significantly faster rate of evolution than do their counterparts in jawed
vertebrates. The genomic structure of the Wnt-5 locus was also examined,
and its organization is similar to that of Wnt genes from insects and
vertebrates. The temporal expression of all three sea urchin Wnt orthologs
during sea urchin development was examined by RNA gel blots or RNase
protection assays. Transcripts from all three sea urchin Wnts are detected
at various developmental stages of both indirect- and direct-developing
species. These data support the view that sea urchin Wnt genes exhibit many
conserved aspects and at least three orthologs are developmentally
regulated in both indirect- and direct-developing sea urchin embryos.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Phylogenetic relationships and developmental expression of three sea urchin Wnt genes
Indiana Molecular Biology Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
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