Characterization of the bHLH family of transcriptional regulators in the acoel S. roscoffensis and their putative role in neurogenesis

Perea-Atienza, E.; Sprecher, Simon G.; Martínez, Pedro

doi:10.1186/s13227-018-0097-y

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Journal article

Characterization of the bHLH family of transcriptional regulators in the acoel S. roscoffensis and their putative role in neurogenesis

Perea-Atienza, E. Departament de Genètica, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
Sprecher, Simon G. Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Martínez, Pedro Departament de Genètica, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain - Institut Català de Recerca i Estudis Avancats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain

29.03.2018

Published in:

EvoDevo. - 2018, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 8

English he basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors is one of the largest superfamilies of regulatory transcription factors and is widely used in eukaryotic organisms. They play an essential role in a range of metabolic, physiological, and developmental processes, including the development of the nervous system (NS). These transcription factors have been studied in many metazoans, especially in vertebrates but also in early branching metazoan clades such as the cnidarians and sponges. However, currently very little is known about their expression in the most basally branching bilaterian group, the xenacoelomorphs. Recently, our laboratory has characterized the full complement of bHLH in the genome of two members of the Xenacoelomorpha, the xenoturbellid Xenoturbella bocki and the acoel Symsagittifera roscoffensis. Understanding the patterns of bHLH gene expression in members of this phylum (in space and time) provides critical new insights into the conserved roles of the bHLH and their putative specificities in this group. Our focus is on deciphering the specific roles that these genes have in the process of neurogenesis.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Biologie

Language