Common Carp mef2 Genes: Evolution and Expression.

Teng Teng,Ding Ding,He He,Yan Yan,Zhou Zhou,Liang Liang

doi:10.3390/genes10080588

Teng Teng, Ding Ding + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10080588

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Abstract

The MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2) family belongs to the MADS-box superfamily of eukaryotic transcription factors. The vertebrate genes compose four distinct subfamilies designated MEF2A, -B, -C, and -D. There are multiple mef2 genes in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). So far, the embryonic expression patterns of these genes and the evolution of fish mef2 genes have been barely investigated. In this study, we completed the coding information of C. carpio mef2ca2 and mef2d1 genes via gene cloning and presented two mosaic mef2 sequences as evidence for recombination. We also analyzed the phylogenetic relationship and conserved synteny of mef2 genes and proposed a new evolutionary scenario. In our version, MEF2B and the other three vertebrate subfamilies were generated in parallel from the single last ancestor via two rounds of whole genome duplication events that occurred at the dawn of vertebrates. Moreover, we examined the expression patterns of C. carpio mef2 genes during embryogenesis, by using whole-mount in situ hybridization, and found the notochord to be a new expression site for these genes except for mef2ca1&2. Our results thus provide new insights into the evolution and expression of mef2 genes.

Highlights

The MEF2 family belongs to the MADS-box superfamily of eukaryoticTFs that is named after the first four members to be recognized: MCM1(minichromosome maintenance 1), AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS, and SRF [1,2].The family is classified as MEF2-like/Type II, in parallel with SRF-like/Type I
There are 12 mef2 genes predicted in the haploid genome of C. carpio (Table 2)
Carpio mef2 genes is not complete at present, it is highly possible that the new ohnologs are located on the same chromosome (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

The MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2) family belongs to the MADS-box superfamily of eukaryoticTFs (transcription factors) that is named after the first four members to be recognized: MCM1(minichromosome maintenance 1), AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS, and SRF (serum response factor) [1,2].The family is classified as MEF2-like/Type II, in parallel with SRF-like/Type I. The MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2) family belongs to the MADS-box superfamily of eukaryotic. TFs (transcription factors) that is named after the first four members to be recognized: MCM1. (minichromosome maintenance 1), AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS, and SRF (serum response factor) [1,2]. The family is classified as MEF2-like/Type II, in parallel with SRF-like/Type I. The extreme N-terminus of each MEF2 protein harbors the evolutionarily conserved MADS-box motif. Adjacent is the MEF2 domain (Figure 1), another homologous stretch unique to this family. Both structures are required for efficient DNA binding, member dimerization and partner interaction [2,4]. The C-terminal segment serves as the transactivation domain and allows high genetic variation and complex alternative splicing [3,5]

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