First evidence of the presence ofNK2andTlxgenes in bivalve molluscs

Abstract

The NK homeobox gene cluster appears to play a primary role in the mesoderm specification and formation and nervous system development of Bilateria. NK2 class genes are transcribed in the developing gut, nervous system, and heart of insects and vertebrates. Tlx genes are involved in a variety of developmental functions such as neurone differentiation. To identify NK box genes in bivalve molluscs, we performed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) survey with degenerate primers on genomic DNA. Three NK box sequences were identified from two bivalve species: one from the clam Venerupis pullastra (Montagu, 1803) called Vpu Tlx and two from the oyster Ostrea edulis L., 1758 called Oed Tlx and Oed Nk2. The alignment of these sequences in the UniProt database reveals a high level of conservation. Phylogenetic analyses by NJ, UPGMA, ME, MP, and ML analyses show the orthology relationships of the Tlx and Nk2 genes with other Tlx and Nk2 genes present in Metazoa genomes. This is the first report of the isolation of NK box genes in bivalve molluscs. Moreover these Tlx and Nk2 genes are the first to prove that Tlx and NK2 gene cognates exist in bivalve molluscs. The presence of these genes in Venerupis and Ostrea suggests that these genes could be conserved in bivalves in general.