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XB-ART-15534
Proc Biol Sci 1997 Dec 22;2641389:1763-6. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1997.0244.
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Evolution of Emx genes and brain development in vertebrates.

Patarnello T , Bargelloni L , Boncinelli E , Spada F , Pannese M , Broccoli V .


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Emx1 and Emx2 genes are known to be involved in mammalian forebrain development. In order to investigate the evolution of the Emx gene family in vertebrates, a phylogenetic analysis was carried out on the Emx genes sequenced in man, mice, frogs, coelacanths and zebrafish. The results demonstrated the existence of two clades (Emx1 and Emx2), each grouping one of the two genes of the investigated taxa. The only exception was the zebrafish Emx1-like gene which turned out to be a sister group to both the Emx1 and Emx2 clusters. Such striking sequence divergence observed for the zebrafish Emx1-like gene could indicate that it is not orthologous to the other Emx1 genes, and therefore, in vertebrates there must be three Emx genes. Alternatively, if the zebrafish emx1 gene is orthologous to the tetrapod one, it must have undergone to strong diversifying selection.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: emx1 emx1l emx2

References [+] :
Brunelli, Germline mutations in the homeobox gene EMX2 in patients with severe schizencephaly. 1996, Pubmed