Evolutionary innovation within conserved gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in Bilateria.

Fuente: PubMed
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Auteurs principaux: Bai, Yitian, Min, Yue, Liu, Shikai, Hu, Yiming, Jin, Shulei, Yu, Hong, Kong, Lingfeng, Macqueen, Daniel J, Du, Shaojun, Li, Qi
Format: Artículo científico
Langue:en
Publié: Molecular biology and evolution 2026
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author Bai, Yitian
Min, Yue
Liu, Shikai
Hu, Yiming
Jin, Shulei
Yu, Hong
Kong, Lingfeng
Macqueen, Daniel J
Du, Shaojun
Li, Qi
author_facet Bai, Yitian
Min, Yue
Liu, Shikai
Hu, Yiming
Jin, Shulei
Yu, Hong
Kong, Lingfeng
Macqueen, Daniel J
Du, Shaojun
Li, Qi
Bai, Yitian
Min, Yue
Liu, Shikai
Hu, Yiming
Jin, Shulei
Yu, Hong
Kong, Lingfeng
Macqueen, Daniel J
Du, Shaojun
Li, Qi
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Evolutionary innovation within conserved gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in Bilateria. Bai, Yitian Min, Yue Liu, Shikai Hu, Yiming Jin, Shulei Yu, Hong Kong, Lingfeng Macqueen, Daniel J Du, Shaojun Li, Qi Animals Gene Regulatory Networks Biomineralization Crassostrea Evolution, Molecular Animal Shells Biological Evolution Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Phylogeny Transcription Factors Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly Larva Biomineralized skeletons have evolved convergently across animals and exhibit remarkable diversity in structure and development. However, the evolutionary origins of gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons remain elusive. Here, we report comprehensive developmental profiling of transcriptomic and chromatin dynamics in a bivalve mollusc, Crassostrea nippona. We provide evidence for a biphasic regulatory program orchestrating larval and adult shell formation, involving the coordinated activity of ancient transcription factors and dynamic chromatin remodeling. Comparative analyses suggest a conserved developmental toolkit was co-opted for larval exoskeleton formation in the common lophotrochozoan ancestor. In contrast, limited regulatory conservation was observed between lophotrochozoans and echinoderms with regard to the formation of biomineralized skeletons, despite both relying on a heterochronic activation of ancestral regulators. Together, our findings support a hierarchical model in which dynamic chromatin decouples rapidly evolving effectors from deeply conserved regulators, allowing modular innovations within conserved gene regulatory networks. This study highlights how epigenetic dynamics bridge evolutionary conservation and novelty, offering a framework for understanding the independent evolution of biomineralization across Bilateria through combinatorial regulatory evolution.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41556888
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Molecular biology and evolution
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Evolutionary innovation within conserved gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in Bilateria.
Bai, Yitian
Min, Yue
Liu, Shikai
Hu, Yiming
Jin, Shulei
Yu, Hong
Kong, Lingfeng
Macqueen, Daniel J
Du, Shaojun
Li, Qi
Animals
Gene Regulatory Networks
Biomineralization
Crassostrea
Evolution, Molecular
Animal Shells
Biological Evolution
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Phylogeny
Transcription Factors
Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
Larva
Evolutionary innovation within conserved gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in Bilateria. Bai, Yitian Min, Yue Liu, Shikai Hu, Yiming Jin, Shulei Yu, Hong Kong, Lingfeng Macqueen, Daniel J Du, Shaojun Li, Qi Animals Gene Regulatory Networks Biomineralization Crassostrea Evolution, Molecular Animal Shells Biological Evolution Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Phylogeny Transcription Factors Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly Larva Biomineralized skeletons have evolved convergently across animals and exhibit remarkable diversity in structure and development. However, the evolutionary origins of gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons remain elusive. Here, we report comprehensive developmental profiling of transcriptomic and chromatin dynamics in a bivalve mollusc, Crassostrea nippona. We provide evidence for a biphasic regulatory program orchestrating larval and adult shell formation, involving the coordinated activity of ancient transcription factors and dynamic chromatin remodeling. Comparative analyses suggest a conserved developmental toolkit was co-opted for larval exoskeleton formation in the common lophotrochozoan ancestor. In contrast, limited regulatory conservation was observed between lophotrochozoans and echinoderms with regard to the formation of biomineralized skeletons, despite both relying on a heterochronic activation of ancestral regulators. Together, our findings support a hierarchical model in which dynamic chromatin decouples rapidly evolving effectors from deeply conserved regulators, allowing modular innovations within conserved gene regulatory networks. This study highlights how epigenetic dynamics bridge evolutionary conservation and novelty, offering a framework for understanding the independent evolution of biomineralization across Bilateria through combinatorial regulatory evolution.
title Evolutionary innovation within conserved gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in Bilateria.
topic Animals
Gene Regulatory Networks
Biomineralization
Crassostrea
Evolution, Molecular
Animal Shells
Biological Evolution
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Phylogeny
Transcription Factors
Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
Larva
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41556888/