PUBLICATION

Runx family genes in a cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii)

Authors
Nah, G.S., Lim, Z.W., Tay, B.H., Osato, M., Venkatesh, B.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140513-213
Date
2014
Source
PLoS One   9: e93816 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Venkatesh, Byrappa
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits/genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genome
  • Humans
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Sharks/genetics*
PubMed
24699678 Full text @ PLoS One
Abstract
The Runx family genes encode transcription factors that play key roles in hematopoiesis, skeletogenesis and neurogenesis and are often implicated in diseases. We describe here the cloning and characterization of Runx1, Runx2, Runx3 and Runxb genes in the elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii), a member of Chondrichthyes, the oldest living group of jawed vertebrates. Through the use of alternative promoters and/or alternative splicing, each of the elephant shark Runx genes expresses multiple isoforms similar to their orthologs in human and other bony vertebrates. The expression profiles of elephant shark Runx genes are similar to those of mammalian Runx genes. The syntenic blocks of genes at the elephant shark Runx gene loci are highly conserved in human, but represented by shorter conserved blocks in zebrafish indicating a higher degree of rearrangements in this teleost fish. Analysis of promoter regions revealed conservation of binding sites for transcription factors, including two tandem binding sites for Runx that are totally conserved in the distal promoter regions of elephant shark Runx1-3. Several conserved noncoding elements (CNEs), which are putative cis-regulatory elements, and miRNA binding sites were identified in the elephant shark and human Runx gene loci. Some of these CNEs and miRNA binding sites are absent in teleost fishes such as zebrafish and fugu. In summary, our analysis reveals that the genomic organization and expression profiles of Runx genes were already complex in the common ancestor of jawed vertebrates.

Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping