Inferring the Phylogenetic Position of the Acoelomate Bilateria with Mitochondrial Gene Arrangements

用线粒体基因排列推断无腔双侧对称动物的系统发育位置

• 批准号: 0089654
• 负责人: James Turbeville
• 金额: $ 25万
• 依托单位: Virginia Commonwealth University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-08-15 至 2005-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0089654&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Inferring; Phylogenetic; Position; Acoelomate; Bilateria

DEB-0089654James M. TurbevilleDr. James Turbeville of the University of Arkansas has been awarded a grant to study the phylogenetic relationships of invertebrate animals by using gene rearrangement data. The animal groups lacking a body cavity (acoelomate phyla) have been considered the most primitive bilaterally symmetrical animals and have played a central role in theories of animal evolution. These animals (e.g., flatworms and ribbon worms) are an important component of animal biodiversity, yet their position in the tree of life (phylogenetic position) remains uncertain after years of intensive research. Mitochondria are structures in cells (organelles) responsible for energy production. They possess a small genome (DNA) which contains 37 genes encoding proteins and structural components involved in energy generation. Recent studies have indicated that mitochondrial gene rearrangements will yield reliable features for clarifying the relationships of major animal groups (phyla). To further evaluate the potential of this approach for estimating the phylogeny of animals, mitochondrial genomes of the acoelomate flatworms (Platyhelminthes), ribbon worms (Nemertea) and the enigmatic Xenoturbella will be sequenced and the arrangements of genes determined. These data will be compared with mitochondrial gene arrangements available for other multicellular animals (metazoans) using appropriate methods to reconstruct a phylogeny for these groups. The data will allow a test of many long-standing hypotheses of animal relationships. The results of this study will contribute to our knowledge of these poorly understood animals, by increasing our understanding of patterns of diversification and providing insight into the evolution of morphological traits, patterns of gene evolution, developmental mechanisms and body plans.

deb-0089654James M. turbevilledr。阿肯色大学的詹姆斯·图贝维尔（James Turbeville）获得了通过基因重排数据研究无脊椎动物动物的系统发育关系的赠款。 缺乏体腔的动物群体（Acoelomate Thyla）被认为是两侧对称的最原始的动物，并且在动物进化理论中发挥了核心作用。 这些动物（例如扁虫和丝带蠕虫）是动物生物多样性的重要组成部分，但是经过多年的深入研究，它们在生命树（系统发育位置）中的位置仍然不确定。 线粒体是负责能量产生的细胞（细胞器）中的结构。 它们具有一个小的基因组（DNA），其中包含37个编码蛋白质和与能量产生有关的结构成分的基因。 最近的研究表明，线粒体基因重排将产生可靠的特征，以阐明主要动物群体的关系（Phyla）。 为了进一步评估这种方法估计动物的系统发育的潜力，将对丙糖酸盐扁虫（Platyhelminthes），丝带蠕虫（Nemertea）和神秘的异种尿尿的线粒体基因组进行测序，并确定基因的排列。 这些数据将与其他多细胞动物（后生动物）可用的线粒体基因排列进行比较，使用适当的方法重建这些组的系统发育。数据将允许测试许多长期存在的动物关系假设。 这项研究的结果将通过增加对多样化模式的理解，并洞悉形态特征的演变，基因进化的模式，发育机制和身体计划，从而有助于我们对这些知识不足的动物的了解。