Expression of Fox genes in the cephalochordate Branchiostoma lanceolatum

摘要: Forkhead box (Fox) genes code for transcription factors that play important roles in different biological processes. They are found a wide variety of organisms and appeared unicellular eukaryotes. In metazoans, the gene family includes many members can be subdivided into 24 classes. Cephalochordates key to understand functional evolution families chordate lineage due their phylogenetic position as an early divergent chordate, simple anatomy genome structure. cephalochordate amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae, 32 Fox were identified, with at least one member each classes present ancestor bilaterians. this work we describe expression pattern 13 these during embryonic development Mediterranean amphioxus, lanceolatum. We FoxK FoxM ubiquitous while all others show specific patterns restricted diverse territories. Many conserved vertebrates, suggesting main functions chordates common ancestor.