Award details

Evolution of the NK homeobox gene cluster

Reference	G10884
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Peter Holland
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Reading
Department	Animal and Microbial Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	132,640
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/02/1999
End date	01/02/2002
Duration	36 months

Abstract

This project will determine the evolutionary pathway of a family of clustered homeobox genes belonging to the NK class. The gene cluster is well characterised in Drosophila, where it includes tinman, bagpipe, ladybird-late, ladybird-early, NK1 and 93Bal. We will clone NK class homeobox genes from amphioxus, chosen to represent a chordate uncomplicated by extensive gene duplication. Linkage studies and molecular phylogenetics will reveal the relationship between Drosophila and amphioxus NK gene clusters; mammalian and C. elegans sequences will then be compared using bioinformatics. Gene expression patterns in amphioxus embryos will reveal how gene regulation co-evolved with diversification of the gene cluster. This study will help reveal the constraints to the evolution of gene clusters, and the extent of conservation in genes controlling mesodermal subdivision.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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