Skip to main content
Log in

Isolation and expression analysis of a Pax group III gene from the crustacean Cherax destructor

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Development Genes and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pax genes encode transcription factors that are critical regulators of key developmental processes in evolutionarily diverse animal phyla. Here we report the first isolation of a Pax gene from a crustacean: a Pax group III gene we have termed CdpaxIII that contains highly conserved DNA-binding domains, the paired domain and homeodomain. CdpaxIII is expressed in the embryo, in adult limb muscle during both quiescence and regeneration, and during the distinct process of epimorphic limb regeneration. Interestingly, CdpaxIII is expressed as two distinct alternate transcripts, one of which is novel in lacking a large portion of its paired domain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balczarek KA, Lai Z-C, Kumar S (1997) Evolution and functional diversification of the paired box (Pax) DNA-binding domains. Mol Biol Evol 14:829–842

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertuccioli C, Fasano L, Jun S, Wang S, Sheng G, Desplan C (1996) In vivo requirement for the paired domain and homeodomain of the paired segmentation gene product. Development 122:2673–2685

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton EM, Mitchell BD (1987) Moult staging in the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax albidus Clark and Cherax destructor Clark (Decapoda: Parastacidae), via uropod setal development. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 38:545–552

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutler LK, Koenders A, Klemm MF, West JM, Mykles DL (2002) Myofibrillar protein composition of muscle fibres from regenerating and pristine claws of the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor. In: Whisson GJ, Knott B (eds) Freshwater crayfish 13. Proceedings of the thirteenth symposium of the International Association of Astacology. Curtin University, Perth, pp 479–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Felsenstein J (2002) PHYLIP (Phylogeny Inference Package) version 3.6alpha3. Distributed by the author. Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  • Groger H, Callaerts P, Gehring W, Schmid V (2000) Characterization and expression analysis of an ancestor-type Pax gene in the hydrozoan jellyfish Podocoryne carnea. Mech Dev 94:157–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland LZ, Schubert M, Kozmik Z, Holland ND (1999) AmphiPax3/7, an amphioxus paired box gene: insights into chordate myogenesis, neurogenesis, and the possible evolutionary precursor of definitive vertebrate neural crest. Evol Dev 1:153–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollastri G, Przybylski D, Rost B, Baldi P (2002) Improving the prediction of protein secondary structure in three and eight classes using recurrent neural networks and profiles. Proteins 47:228–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandeman R, Sandeman D (1991) Stages in the development of the fresh-water crayfish Cherax destructor. Roux’s Arch Dev Biol 200:27–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Seale P, Sabourin LA, Girgis-Gabardo A, Mansouri A, Gruss P, Rudnicki MA (2000) Pax7 is required for the specification of myogenic satellite cells. Cell 102:777–786

    Google Scholar 

  • Seo H-C, Saetre BO, Havik B, Ellingsen S, Fjose A (1998) The zebrafish Pax3 and Pax7 homologues are highly conserved, encode multiple isoforms and show dynamic segment-like expression in the developing brain. Mech Dev 70:49–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogan KJ, Underhill DA, Gros P (1996) An alternative splicing event in the Pax-3 paired domain identifies the linker region as a key determinant of paired domain DNA-binding activity. Mol Cell Biol 16:6677–6686

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DS, Guenther B, Desplan C, Kuriyan J (1995) High resolution crystal structure of a paired (Pax) class cooperative homeodomain dimer on DNA. Cell 82:709–719

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu W, Rould MA, Jun S, Desplan C, Pabo CO (1995) Crystal structure of a paired domain-DNA complex at 2.5 Å resolution reveals structural basis for Pax developmental mutations. Cell 80:639–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu HE, Rould MA, Xu W, Epstein JA, Maas RL (1999) Crystal structure of the human Pax6 paired domain-DNA complex reveals specific roles for the linker region and carboxy-terminal subdomain in DNA binding. Genes Dev 13:1263–1275

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Meghan Thomas for assistance with preparation of figures, and Brett O’Brien and Julia Wilson for provision of adult yabbies. This work was completed with support from the Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert B. White.

Additional information

Communicated by C. Desplan

The sequences reported here have been deposited in the GenBank database [accession numbers AY771613 (CdpaxIII) and AY771614 (CdpaxIIIPAID)]

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

White, R.B., Lamey, T.M., Ziman, M. et al. Isolation and expression analysis of a Pax group III gene from the crustacean Cherax destructor. Dev Genes Evol 215, 306–312 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-005-0478-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-005-0478-9

Keywords

Navigation