Unexpected complexity of the Wnt gene family in a sea anemone

Arne Kusserow, Kevin Pang, Carsten Sturm, Martina Hrouda, Jan Lentfer, Heiko A. Schmidt, Ulrich Technau, Arndt von Haeseler, Bert Hobmayer, Mark Q. Martindale () and Thomas W. Holstein ()
Additional contact information
Arne Kusserow: Darmstadt University of Technology
Kevin Pang: Kewalo Marine Lab PBRC, University of Hawaii
Carsten Sturm: Darmstadt University of Technology
Martina Hrouda: Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck
Jan Lentfer: Darmstadt University of Technology
Heiko A. Schmidt: John von Neumann-Institut für Computing (NIC), FZ Jülich
Ulrich Technau: Darmstadt University of Technology
Arndt von Haeseler: John von Neumann-Institut für Computing (NIC), FZ Jülich
Bert Hobmayer: Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck
Mark Q. Martindale: Kewalo Marine Lab PBRC, University of Hawaii
Thomas W. Holstein: Darmstadt University of Technology

Nature, 2005, vol. 433, issue 7022, 156-160

Abstract: Evolution of complexity Wnt proteins are highly conserved signalling molecules that control cell fate in embryogenesis, and have been implicated in human diseases including cancer. The Wnt family is now shown to have unexpectedly deep evolutionary roots in the animal kingdom. The starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis, shown on the cover; photo by Timm Nüchter, Darmstadt) is a member of the cnidaria, a group that includes jellyfish and corals whose origin predates the evolution of bilaterally symmetrical animals. Lowly sea anemones were not expected to have much complexity, but an almost complete set of Wnt genes has now been found in embryos of this sea anemone, performing complex tasks. This ancient patterning system may therefore have provided the springboard for the diversification of body plans known as the Cambrian explosion.

Date: 2005
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DOI: 10.1038/nature03158

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