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A PCR survey of Hox genes in the myzostomid Myzostoma cirriferum

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Abstract

Using degenerate primers, we were able to identify seven Hox genes for the myzostomid Myzostoma cirriferum. The recovered fragments belong to anterior class (Mci_lab, Mci_pb), central class (Mci_Dfd, Mci_Lox5, Mci_Antp, Mci_Lox4), and posterior class (Mci_Post2) paralog groups. Orthology assignment was verified by phylogenetic analyses and presence of diagnostic regions in the homeodomain as well as flanking regions. The presence of Lox5, Lox4, and Post2 supports the inclusion of Myzostomida within Lophotrochozoa. We found signature residues within flanking regions of Lox5, which are also found in annelids, but not in Platyhelminthes. As such the available Hox genes data of myzostomids support an annelid relationship.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge financial support from the DFG in the priority program SPP 1174 “Deep Metazoan Phylogeny” to CB (BL 787/2-1) and RT (TI 349/4-1). DL was supported by a Belgian Postdoctoral Research Associate grant from the “Fonds de la recherche scientifique” (FNRS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, Haus 26, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany

    Christoph Bleidorn & Ralph Tiedemann

  2. Marine Biology Laboratory, Natural Sciences Building, University of Mons-Hainaut, Av. Champs de Mars 6, 7000, Mons, Belgium

    Deborah Lanterbecq & Igor Eeckhaut

Authors
  1. Christoph Bleidorn
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  2. Deborah Lanterbecq
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  3. Igor Eeckhaut
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  4. Ralph Tiedemann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christoph Bleidorn.

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Communicated by D.A. Weisblat

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Bleidorn, C., Lanterbecq, D., Eeckhaut, I. et al. A PCR survey of Hox genes in the myzostomid Myzostoma cirriferum . Dev Genes Evol 219, 211–216 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-009-0282-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-009-0282-z

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