Trichoplax adhaerens: The Dlx gene

More Trichoplax preadaptations:

The Dlx gene

What does it do (wiki)?

Quote:

Dlx genes are required for the tangential migration of interneurons from the subpallium to the pallium during vertebrate brain development [3]. It has been suggested that Dlx promotes the migration of interneurons by repressing a set of proteins that are normally expressed in terminally differentiated neurons and act to promote the outgrowth of dendrites and axons [4]. Mice lacking Dlx1 exhibit electrophysiological and histological evidence consistent with delayed-onset epilepsy [5]. Dlx2 has been associated with a number of areas including development of the zona limitans intrathalamica and the prethalamus. Dlx5/6 expression is necessary for normal lower jaw patterning in vertebrates [6]. Dlx7 is expressed in bone marrow

A quick BLAST of the sequence reveals it is closely related to human Dlx1, as well as Dlx1 in other vertebrates (including Zebrafish, the mouse, rat opossum, dog etc.)

More specifically, what does Dlx1 do?
Pubmed

Quote:

This gene encodes a member of a homeobox transcription factor gene family similiar to the Drosophila distal-less gene. The encoded protein is localized to the nucleus where it may function as a transcriptional regulator of signals from multiple TGF-{beta} superfamily members. The encoded protein may play a role in the control of craniofacial patterning and the differentiation and survival of inhibitory neurons in the forebrain. This gene is located in a tail-to-tail configuration with another member of the family on the long arm of chromosome 2. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described.

It is possible to create a homology of this protein to look at its possible structure. The closest match is the human Dlx 5 protein structure. Sequence alignment places the Dlx sequence of Trichoplax closer to human Dlx5 than to human Dlx1.

What does Dlx 5 do?
Pubmed:

Quote:

This gene encodes a member of a homeobox transcription factor gene family similar to the Drosophila distal-less gene. The encoded protein may play a role in bone development and fracture healing. Mutation in this gene, which is located in a tail-to-tail configuration with another member of the family on the long arm of chromosome 7, may be associated with split-hand/split-foot malformation.

The homology model of the protein:
A good quality protein was generated

So, a Hox gene responsible for a sundry of neurologically associated developmental processes present in an organism with no nerve, sensory or bone cells at the base of the evolutionary tree.
Awesome