Identification and functional characterization of the first non-chordate kisspeptin neuropeptide system in the sea cucumber indicates the ancient origin of the intracellular signaling and physiological functions of this molecular system.
Sarah Jacquelyn Smith, Lance A Davidson, Mark Rebeiz
A new morphological structure evolved through extreme changes in cell height requires novel connections to an extracellular matrix network, which predates the origin of structure.
Leo Blondel, Tamsin EM Jones, Cassandra G Extavour
Evidence suggests that the oskar gene, a critical germ line determinant in insects, was formed by fusion of bacterial and eukaryotic sequences at least 450 million years ago.
Unexpected structural diversity of nematode small molecules, as revealed by high-resolution phylogenetic analysis, suggests recurrent biochemical innovation, a pattern that is probably typical across animals.
Joseph L Harman, Andrea N Loes ... Michael J Harms
In the ancestor of mammals, a multifunctional innate immune protein evolved when a mutation enhanced the protein’s pro-inflammatory activity and proteolytic regulation without disrupting the protein’s antimicrobial activity.
Edgar M Medina, Kristyn A Robinson ... Nicolas E Buchler
Spizellomycespunctatusis a genetically tractable chytrid and model organism for comparative cell biology for understanding evolution of the cell cycle, actin dynamics, and cellularization in fungi and early eukaryotes.
Deep mining of GT-A fold sequences provides an evolutionary framework for investigating complex relationships connecting GT-A fold sequence, structure, function and regulation.