本期Nature發(fā)表了大堡礁海綿Amphimedon queenslandica的基因組草圖,，同時還有比較基因組分析結(jié)果,。
海綿被認為處在動物界最早的分支上,，是“真”動物或“真后生動物”的一個姐妹類群,。因此,，海綿對多細胞性起源的研究做出了重要貢獻,。分析表明，該基因組在內(nèi)容,、結(jié)構和組織上都與其他動物基因組非常相似,，并且顯示了與動物的起源和早期演化相關的基因組事件，包括“泛后生動物”轉(zhuǎn)錄因子,、信號通道和結(jié)構基因的出現(xiàn),、擴張和分化。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Nature doi:10.1038/nature09201
The Amphimedon queenslandica genome and the evolution of animal complexity
Mansi Srivastava,Oleg Simakov,Jarrod Chapman,Bryony Fahey,Marie E. A. Gauthier,Therese Mitros,Gemma S. Richards,Cecilia Conaco,Michael Dacre,Uffe Hellsten,Claire Larroux,Nicholas H. Putnam,Mario Stanke,Maja Adamska,Aaron Darling,Sandie M. Degnan,Todd H. Oakley,David C. Plachetzki,Yufeng Zhai,Marcin Adamski,Andrew Calcino,Scott F. Cummins,David M. Goodstein,Christina Harris,Daniel J. Jackson,et al
Sponges are an ancient group of animals that diverged from other metazoans over 600 million years ago. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Amphimedon queenslandica, a demosponge from the Great Barrier Reef, and show that it is remarkably similar to other animal genomes in content, structure and organization. Comparative analysis enabled by the sequencing of the sponge genome reveals genomic events linked to the origin and early evolution of animals, including the appearance, expansion and diversification of pan-metazoan transcription factor, signalling pathway and structural genes. This diverse ‘toolkit’ of genes correlates with critical aspects of all metazoan body plans, and comprises cell cycle control and growth, development, somatic- and germ-cell specification, cell adhesion, innate immunity and allorecognition. Notably, many of the genes associated with the emergence of animals are also implicated in cancer, which arises from defects in basic processes associated with metazoan multicellularity.
