Conservation of engrailed-like homeobox sequences during vertebrate evolution

AbstractThe Drosophila melanogaster developmental gene engrailed (en) is a member of a distinct subfamily of homeobox genes with a wide phylogenetic distribution. Here we report the use of reduced stringency polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify and clone 8 genes related to en from 5 vertebrate species, including representatives of the most ancient vertebrate lineages. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence comparisons between mouse, toad, zebrafish, lamprey and hagfish genes reveal extensive evolutionary conservation, and suggests that 2 en-like genes have been retained in most vertebrate lineages

Cloning of segment polarity gene homologues from the unsegmented brachiopod Terebratulina retusa (Linnaeus)

AbstractWe have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify, clone and sequence homologues of the Drosophila segment polarity genes engrailed (en), cubitus interruptus Dominant (ciD) and wingless (wg) from the genome of the brachiopod, Terebratulina retusa (Linnaeus). The deduced translation products of brachiopod en and ciD share high levels of sequence identity with their Drosophila homologues. The brachiopod wg-related clone is divergent from Drosophila wg, although clearly a member of the wg/Wnt gene family. These results indicate that structural diversity of Drosophila segment polarity genes has been evolutionarily conserved in a divergent, ancient and unsegmented animal phylum

Hsp70 sequences indicate that choanoflagellates are closely related to animals

AbstractOver 130 years ago, James-Clark [1, 2] noted a remarkable structural similarity between the feeding cells of sponges (choanocytes) and a group of free-living protists, the choanoflagellates. Both cell types possess a single flagellum surrounded by a collar of fine tentacles [3]. The similarity led to the hypothesis that sponges, and, by implication, other animals, evolved from choanoflagellate-like ancestors. Phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal DNA neither supports nor refutes this hypothesis [4–6]. Here, we report the sequence of an hsp70 gene and pseudogene from the freshwater choanoflagellate Monosiga ovata. These represent the first nuclear-encoded protein-coding sequences reported for any choanoflagellate. We find that Monosiga and most bilaterian hsp70 genes have high GC contents that may distort phylogenetic tree construction; therefore, protein sequences were used for phylogenetic reconstruction. Our analyses indicate that Monosiga is more closely related to animals than to fungi. We infer that animals and at least some choanoflagellates are part of a clade that excludes the fungi. This is consistent with the origin of animals from a choanoflagellate-like ancestor

The genome sequence of the rustic shoulder-knot, Apamea sordens (Hufnagel, 1766)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Apamea sordens (the Rustic Shoulder-knot; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 614 megabases in span. The whole assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.3 kilobases in length

The genome sequence of the pinion-streaked snout, Schrankia costaestrigalis (Stephens, 1834)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Schrankia costaestrigalis (the Pinion-streaked Snout; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Erebidae). The genome sequence is 572.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.1 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 19,453 protein coding genes

The genome sequence of the miller, Acronicta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Acronicta leporina (the Miller; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 466 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the W and Z sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length

The genome sequence of the dingy shears, Fissipunctia ypsillon (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Fissipunctia ypsillon (the Dingy Shears; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 715.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the W and Z sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.46 kilobases in length

The genome sequence of the Hebrew character, Orthosia gothica (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Orthosia gothica (the Hebrew character; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 1,065.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 37 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.38 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 13,691 protein coding genes

The genome sequence of the red chestnut moth, Cerastis rubricosa (Schiffermüller, 1775)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Cerastis rubricosa (the Red Chestnut moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 678.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.39 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,784 protein coding genes

The genome sequence of the green silver-lines, Pseudoips prasinana (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Pseudoips prasinana (the Green Silver-lines; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nolidae). The genome sequence is 1,125.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 33 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z and W sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.23 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 20,065 protein coding genes