Polarity factor ‘Frizzled’ in the demosponge Suberites domuncula: identification, expression and localization of the receptor in the epithelium/pinacoderm

FEBS Letters

Müller, Werner E.G.¹  Nefkens, Isabelle¹  Adell, Teresa¹ 

[1] Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universität Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55099 Mainz, Germany

关键词: Sponge;    Porifera;    Frizzled receptor;    Tissue polarity;    Axis formation;    Suberites domuncula;    CMFSW;    Ca2+- and Mg2+-free artificial seawater;    PBS;    phosphate-buffered saline;    PCR;    polymerase chain reaction;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(03)01190-6

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Until recently, it was assumed that polarity and axis formation have evolved only in metazoan phyla higher than Cnidaria. One key molecule involved in the signal transduction causing tissue polarity is Frizzled, a seven-transmembrane receptor that is activated by the Wnt family of secreted proteins. We report the isolation and characterization of a Frizzled gene from the demosponge Suberites domuncula (Sd-Fz). The deduced polypeptide comprises all characteristic domains known from Frizzled receptors of higher metazoans. In situ hybridization studies show that Sd-Fz is expressed in cells close to the surface of the sponges and in the pinacocytes of some canals. Northern blot analysis demonstrates its upregulation during the formation of three-dimensional sponge cell aggregates in culture. These data provide for the first time experimental evidence that already in the lowest metazoan phylum (Porifera) genes are present which are very likely involved in tissue polarity.

【 授权许可】

Unknown