Expression of Distal-less, dachshund, and optomotor blind in Neanthes arenaceodentata (Annelida, Nereididae) does not support homology of appendage-forming mechanisms across the Bilateria

The similarity in the genetic regulation of arthropod and vertebrate appendage formation has been interpreted as the product of a plesiomorphic gene network that was primitively involved in bilaterian appendage development and co-opted to build appendages (in modern phyla) that are not historically related as structures. Data from lophotrochozoans are needed to clarify the pervasiveness of plesiomorphic appendage forming mechanisms. We assayed the expression of three arthropod and vertebrate limb gene orthologs, Distal-less (Dll), dachshund (dac), and optomotor blind (omb), in direct-developing juveniles of the polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata. Parapodial Dll expression marks premorphogenetic notopodia and neuropodia, becoming restricted to the bases of notopodial cirri and to ventral portions of neuropodia. In outgrowing cephalic appendages, Dll activity is primarily restricted to proximal domains. Dll expression is also prominent in the brain. dac expression occurs in the brain, nerve cord ganglia, a pair of pharyngeal ganglia, presumed interneurons linking a pair of segmental nerves, and in newly differentiating mesoderm. Domains of omb expression include the brain, nerve cord ganglia, one pair of anterior cirri, presumed precursors of dorsal musculature, and the same pharyngeal ganglia and presumed interneurons that express dac. Contrary to their roles in outgrowing arthropod and vertebrate appendages, Dll, dac, and omb lack comparable expression in Neanthes appendages, implying independent evolution of annelid appendage development. We infer that parapodia and arthropodia are not structurally or mechanistically homologous (but their primordia might be), that Dll’s ancestral bilaterian function was in sensory and central nervous system differentiation, and that locomotory appendages possibly evolved from sensory outgrowths

(E)-1-(4-Chloro­benzyl­idene)thio­semi­carbazide

In the crystal of the title compound, C8H8ClN3S, mol­ecules are connected by N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds into strips parallel to the (112) planes and running along [10]. One of the amino H atoms is not involved in a classical hydrogen bond. In addition, there is a rather short inter­molecular Cl⋯S distance of 3.3814 (5) Å

Bis[2-(cyclo­pentyl­imino­meth­yl)-5-meth­oxy­phenolato]copper(II)

The title compound, [Cu(C13H16NO2)2], is a mononuclear copper(II) complex derived from the Schiff base ligand 2-(cyclo­pentyl­imino­meth­yl)-5-meth­oxy­phenol and copper acetate. The CuII atom is four-coordinated by the phenolate O atoms and imine N atoms from two Schiff base ligands, in a highly distorted square-planar geometry. The O- and N-donor atoms are mutually trans and the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 55.8 (3)°

Bis{1-[3-(diethyl­ammonio)­propyl­imino­meth­yl]naphthalen-2-olato}nickel(II) dinitrate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Ni(C18H24N2O)2](NO3)2, consists of one half of the centrosymmetric nickel(II) complex cation and a nitrate anion. The NiII atom, lying on an inversion center, is four-coordinated by the phenolate O atoms and imine N atoms of two Schiff base ligands, forming a square-planar geometry. The O- and N-donor atoms are mutually trans. In the crystal structure, the nitrate anions are linked to the complex cations by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds