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A conserved set of maternal genes? Insights from a molluscan transcriptome

Liu, M. Maureen; Davey, John W.; Jackson, Daniel J.; Blaxter, Mark L.; Davison, Angus

Authors

M. Maureen Liu

John W. Davey

Daniel J. Jackson

Mark L. Blaxter

ANGUS DAVISON angus.davison@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics



Abstract

The early animal embryo is entirely reliant on maternal gene products for a ‘jump-start’ that transforms a transcriptionally inactive embryo into a fully functioning zygote. Despite extensive work on model species, it has not been possible to perform a comprehensive comparison of maternally-provisioned transcripts across the Bilateria because of the absence of a suitable dataset from the Lophotrochozoa. As part of an ongoing effort to identify the maternal gene that determines left-right asymmetry in snails, we have generated transcriptome data from 1 to 2-cell and ~32-cell pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) embryos. Here, we compare these data to maternal transcript datasets from other bilaterian metazoan groups, including representatives of the Ecydysozoa and Deuterostomia. We found that between 5 and 10% of all L. stagnalis maternal transcripts (~300-400 genes) are also present in the equivalent arthropod (Drosophila melanogaster), nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), urochordate (Ciona intestinalis) and chordate (Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Danio rerio) datasets. While the majority of these conserved maternal transcripts (“COMATs”) have housekeeping gene functions, they are a non-random subset of all housekeeping genes, with an overrepresentation of functions associated with nucleotide binding, protein degradation and activities associated with the cell cycle. We conclude that a conserved set of maternal transcripts and their associated functions may be a necessary starting point of early development in the Bilateria. For the wider community interested in discovering conservation of gene expression in early bilaterian development, the list of putative COMATs may be useful resource.

Citation

Liu, M. M., Davey, J. W., Jackson, D. J., Blaxter, M. L., & Davison, A. (2014). A conserved set of maternal genes? Insights from a molluscan transcriptome. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 58, https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.140121ad

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2014
Deposit Date Sep 15, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal International Journal of Developmental Biology
Print ISSN 0214-6282
Electronic ISSN 0214-6282
Publisher University of the Basque Country Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 58
DOI https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.140121ad
Keywords maternal to zygotic transition, mollusk, MBT, MZT, Spiralia
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/999157
Publisher URL http://www.ijdb.ehu.es/web/paper.php?doi=140121ad

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