Evolution of Chordate ParaHox Gene Regulation

该项目将涉及对脊索状ParaHox基因簇的调查，特别是研究它们之间的调控机制。ParaHox基因是Hoxgene的进化姐妹，在表达上也表现出共线性。研究ParaHox起源的一个特别优势是只有三个ParaHox基因，这提供了一个比较简单的系统来研究Hox基因。用来研究这些基因的生物将是文昌鱼、被囊鱼和雏鸟。提供了在脊椎动物底部的两轮全基因组复制之前和之后观察该簇的作用的方法。使用所有这三种生物也提供了观察完整和分散的星团的机会。总体而言，这三个物种之间的比较将被用来调查ParaHox基因在最早的动物进化和多样化中的作用。该项目将通过使用Vista和Mulan等程序识别我们感兴趣的基因上游区域的保守性来实现这一点，以确定该区域内保守的转录因子结合位点。在识别潜在的转录因子之后，原位杂交可以用于比较三个物种的表达。对此的扩展可以是使用Crispr进行基因敲除或靶向突变(可以引入双点突变)来比较不同生物之间的差异。

The project will involve an investigation into the chordate ParaHox gene cluster, specifically looking atthe regulatory mechanisms operating across them. ParaHox genes are the evolutionary sister to the Hoxgenes and too exhibit collinearity in expression. A particular advantage of studying the ParaHox genesis that there are only three ParaHox genes, which provides a simpler system to investigate in comparisonto the Hox genes. The organisms used to study these genes will be amphioxus, the tunicate ciona and the chick. Providingthe means to look at the role of the cluster both before and after the two rounds of whole genomeduplication at the base of the vertebrates. Using all three organisms also provides the opportunity to lookat both intact and dispersed clusters. Overall, comparisons between the three species will be used toinvestigate the role of the Parahox genes in the evolution and diversification of the earliest animals. The project will achieve this by identifying conservation in upstream regions of our genes of interest usingprograms like VISTA and MULAN to identify conserved transcription factor binding sites within this region.Following identification of potential transcription factors, in-situ hybridisation could be used to compareexpression across the three species. Expansion on this could be to use gene knock out using Crispr ortargeted mutanogenesis (can introduce double point mutations) compare between the differentorganisms.