AMMECR1基因与人类AMME综合症有关，该基因在所有脊索动物中高度保守，表明具有重要的生物学功能，但至今人们对该基因家族的起源演化和功能却所知甚少。我们前期研究发现，1）该基因家族在非脊椎动物中包含一个成员，而在除硬骨鱼和圆口类之外的所有其他脊椎动物类群中则包含两个成员，2）该家族基因可能参与脊索动物中枢神经系统和神经脊的发育。本项目将在前期工作的基础上，利用现有公共数据资源（辅以基因克隆），明确AMMECR1基因家族起源及演化问题，并以文昌鱼、斑马鱼和爪蟾为研究模型，运用RTqPCR、原位杂交、mophorlino、Talen敲除基因、过表达及功能代偿等技术手段，通过比较发育生物学方法，深入探究AMMECR1基因家族在上神经系统发育过程中的功能，并通过神经发育标记分子，揭示其作用的分子机制。最后将综合以上数据，绘制AMMECR1家族基因在脊索动物神经系统和神经脊发育中的功能演化图。

It has been proven that AMMECR1 genes are related to the AMME syndrome in human. The genes are highly conserved throughout all chordate groups, hinting an important biological function in organisms. However, the origin and evolution of the gene family as well as their function are still unknown to date. During our pre-investigations on the gene family, we found that 1) the AMMECR1 gene family includes one member in invertebrates and two members in all vertebrate lineages except for cyclostomes and teleosts; 2) the AMMECR1 family genes probably have essencial roles in the development of chordate central neural system and nerual crest. Starting from these preliminary work, in the current proposal we will take full advantages of all publicly available genome resours (combining with gene cloning from selected animals), to clarify the evolution of the AMMECR1 gene family. Further, we will use amphioxus, zebrafish and frog as models and employ molecular tools, including RTqPCR, whole-mount in situ hybridization, gene knockdown and overexpression as well as Talen-knockout methods, to elucidate their roles in the developments of the central neural system and nerual crest in the above three species.By comparing with the nerual development molecular markers, we will disclose the mechanism performed by AMMECR1 in the formation of central development. Finally, we will summarise results from above experiments and deduce the origin and evolution of the gene family and their functional evolution in the development of chordate central neural system and nerual crest.