Authors
Shigehiro Kuraku
Publication date
2023/4/14
Book
Hox Modules in Evolution and Development
Pages
103-120
Publisher
CRC Press
Description
Chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fishes) occupy a unique phylogenetic position in the tree of vertebrates, which is distinct from jawless cyclostomes, actinopterygian, and sarcopterygian fishes. They include holocephalans (chimaeras and ratfishes) and elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). With initial difficulties in establishing sustainable experimental solutions, studies of elasmobranch Hox genes were initiated with targeted PCR or genomic clone sequencing, followed eventually by whole genome sequencing. This work revealed a conservative nature of the Hox A, B, and D clusters, with stable lengths of about 100 Kbp regardless of genome size. In contrast, the Hox C cluster underwent a remarkably high divergence in protein-coding sequences and cluster organization. The elasmobranch Hox C gene repertoires revealed to date exhibit high variation between different species, even among sharks. This chapter …
Scholar articles
S Kuraku - Hox Modules in Evolution and Development, 2023