Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Skorokhod, A.
Right arrow Articles by Muller, WEG.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Skorokhod, A.
Right arrow Articles by Muller, WEG.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 197, Issue 2 198-206, Copyright © 1999 by Marine Biological Laboratory

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

Origin of Insulin Receptor-Like Tyrosine Kinases in Marine Sponges

A. Skorokhod, V. Gamulin, D. Gundacker, V. Kavsan, I. M. Muller and WEG. Muller
Institut fur Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universitat, Duesbergweg 6, D-55099 Mainz, Germany

One autapomorphic character restricted to all Metazoa including Porifera [sponges] is the existence of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). In this study we screened for molecules from one subfamily within the superfamily of the insulin receptors. The subfamily includes the insulin receptors (InsR), the insulin-like growth factor I receptors, and the InsR-related receptors--all found in vertebrates--as well as the InsR-homolog from Drosophila melanogaster. cDNAs encoding putative InsRs were isolated from the hexactinellid sponge Aphrocallistes vastus, the demosponge Suberites domuncula, and the calcareous sponge Sycon raphanus. Phylogenetic analyses of the catalytic domains of the putative RTKs showed that the sponge polypeptides must be grouped with the InsRs. The relationships revealed that all sponge sequences fall into one branch of this group, whereas related sequences from mammals (human, mouse, and rat), insects and molluscs, and polypeptides from one cephalochordate, fall together into a second branch. We have concluded that (i) the InsR-like molecules evolved in sponges prior to the "Cambrian Explosion" and contributed to the rapid appearance of the higher metazoan phyla; (ii) the sponges constitute a monophyletic taxon, and (iii) epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains are present in sponges, which allows the insertion of this domain into potential receptor and matrix molecules.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
V. Hartenstein
The neuroendocrine system of invertebrates: a developmental and evolutionary perspective.
J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2006; 190(3): 555 - 570.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. A. Nichols, W. Dirks, J. S. Pearse, and N. King
Early evolution of animal cell signaling and adhesion genes
PNAS, August 15, 2006; 103(33): 12451 - 12456.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. J. Broughton, M. D. W. Piper, T. Ikeya, T. M. Bass, J. Jacobson, Y. Driege, P. Martinez, E. Hafen, D. J. Withers, S. J. Leevers, et al.
Longer lifespan, altered metabolism, and stress resistance in Drosophila from ablation of cells making insulin-like ligands
PNAS, February 22, 2005; 102(8): 3105 - 3110.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
N. King and S. B. Carroll
A receptor tyrosine kinase from choanoflagellates: Molecular insights into early animal evolution
PNAS, December 18, 2001; 98(26): 15032 - 15037.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1999 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.