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

INT 9707861荷兰 这个美国-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Zbynek Kozmik合作的捷克研究项目将检查发育遗传数据，以表明远亲动物身体区域之间的同源性。 具体来说，这个项目的重点是头索动物文昌鱼作为一个合理的，更简单的模式，为近端的无脊椎动物的祖先脊椎动物。 这项合作工作的特点是文昌鱼中Pax基因家族的发育表达和功能，该基因家族参与脊椎动物咽，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Pax家族文昌鱼同源物的cDNA和基因组DNA克隆，并将其用作合成反义核糖核酸探针的模板，以通过原位杂交确定这些同源物在发育中的文昌鱼中何时何地表达。 从观察到的定位模式可以推断同源基因。 胚胎学和表达模式的综合专业知识（美国）克隆和基因分析（捷克）有望对脊椎动物身体结构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。 这个发育生物学项目实现了促进科学知识的计划目标，使美国和中欧的领先专家能够联合收割机互补人才，并在共同感兴趣和能力强的领域汇集资源。 ??

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. ??