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

INT 9707861荷兰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·科兹米克共同开展的美国-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，这个项目的重点是文昌鱼，作为脊椎动物近亲无脊椎动物祖先的一个看似合理、更简单的模型。这项合作工作的特点是Pax基因家族在文昌鱼中的发育表达和功能，该家族参与了脊椎动物的咽部、神经索、眼睛、轴向肌肉和肾脏的形态发生。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，并将其用作合成反义核探针的模板，通过原位杂交来确定这些同源物在文昌鱼发育中的表达地点和时间。从观察到的定位模式可以推断出同源基因。胚胎学和表达模式的综合专业知识(美国)而克隆和基因分析(捷克)有望为脊椎动物身体计划的演变和形成脊索胚胎所涉及的机制提供新的见解。这些信息将有助于我们对基因如何相互作用创造有机体的基本理解。这一发育生物学项目通过使美国和中欧的顶尖专家能够将互补的人才结合在一起，并在具有强烈共同兴趣和能力的领域汇集资源，从而实现了促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. ??