U.S.-Czech Research on Developmental Genetics of Amphioxus: Insights into the Origin and Evolution of the Vertebrate Body Plan

这个由加州大学斯克里普斯研究所的琳达·霍兰德和尼古拉斯·霍兰德以及捷克分子遗传学研究所的兹比内克·科兹米克共同完成的美国-捷克研究项目将检查发育基因数据，以表明远亲动物身体区域之间的同源性。具体地说，这个项目的重点是头脊索文文鱼作为脊椎动物的近无脊椎动物祖先的一个合理的，更简单的模型。合作研究了文文鱼Pax基因家族的发育表达和功能，该基因家族参与了脊椎动物咽部、神经索、眼睛、轴向肌肉组织和肾脏的形态发生。研究人员打算分离文昌鱼Pax家族同源物的cDNA和基因组DNA克隆，并将其作为合成反义核糖探针的模板，通过原位杂交确定这些同源物在文昌鱼发育中的表达位置和时间。从观察到的定位模式可以推断同源基因。结合胚胎学和表达模式（美国）和克隆和基因分析（捷克）的专业知识，有望对脊椎动物身体计划的进化和脊索动物胚胎形成的机制产生新的见解。这些信息将有助于我们对基因如何相互作用创造生物体的基本理解。这个发育生物学的项目通过使美国和中欧的顶尖专家在共同感兴趣和能力强的领域结合互补的人才和汇集资源，实现了推进科学知识的计划目标。?？

INT 9707861 Holland This U.S.-Czech research project between Linda Holland and Nicholas Holland of the University of California, Scripps Institute, and Zbynek Kozmik of the Czech Institute of Molecular Genetics will examine developmental genetic data to indicate homologies between body regions of distantly related animals. Specifically, this project focuses on cephalochordate amphioxus as a plausible, more simple model for the proximate invertebrate ancestor of vertebrates. The collaborative work features the developmental expression and function of the Pax gene family in amphioxus which is involved in morphogenesis of the vertebrate pharynx, nerve cord, eyes, axial musculature, and kidneys. The researchers intend to isolate cDNA and genomic DNA clones of amphioxus homologs of the Pax family and use them as templates for the synthesis of antisense riboprobes to determine by in situ hybridization where and when these homologs are expressed in developing amphioxus. From the observed localization patterns inferences can be made about homologous genes. The combined expertise in embryology and expression patterns (U.S.) and cloning and gene analysis (Czech) are expected to yield new insights into the evolution of the vertebrate body plan and the mechanisms involved in shaping a chordate embryo. The information will contribute to our basic understanding of how genes interact to create an organism. This project in developmental biology fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Central Europe to combine complementary talents and pool resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence. ??