The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission
Serine hydroxymethyltransferases (SHMTs) are key enzymes in one-carbon metabolism, with vertebrates possessing two paralogs, cytosolic SHMT1 and mitochondrial SHMT2, implicated in nucleotide biosynthesis and glycine metabolism. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary history of animal <i&g...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Matteo Bozzo Emanuele Serafini Giacomo Rosa Virginia Bazzurro Andrea Amaroli Sara Ferrando Michael Schubert Simona Candiani |
| author_facet | Matteo Bozzo Emanuele Serafini Giacomo Rosa Virginia Bazzurro Andrea Amaroli Sara Ferrando Michael Schubert Simona Candiani |
| author_sort | Matteo Bozzo |
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| description | Serine hydroxymethyltransferases (SHMTs) are key enzymes in one-carbon metabolism, with vertebrates possessing two paralogs, cytosolic SHMT1 and mitochondrial SHMT2, implicated in nucleotide biosynthesis and glycine metabolism. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary history of animal <i>Shmt</i> genes and analyze the expression patterns of <i>Shmt</i> genes in developing amphioxus (<i>Branchiostoma lanceolatum</i>). Phylogenetic analyses indicate the presence of <i>Shmt1</i> and <i>Shmt2</i> orthologs in deuterostomes, spiralians and placozoans, which is consistent with an ancient <i>Shmt</i> gene duplication event predating bilaterian diversification. Gene expression analyses in developing amphioxus show that <i>Shmt2</i> expression is confined to the somites and absent from neural tissues. In contrast, <i>Shmt1</i> is broadly expressed across germ layers, but its transcription is restricted to tissues characterized by strong cell proliferation. Notably, <i>Shmt1</i> expression in the nervous system does not match the distribution of glycinergic neuron populations, implying a negligible role in glycine neurotransmitter synthesis. Instead, the spatial correlation of <i>Shmt1</i> expression with mitotically active domains suggests a primary function in nucleotide biosynthesis via one-carbon metabolism. These findings indicate that SHMTs predominantly support cell proliferation rather than neurotransmission in amphioxus. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0a4bb775e8fb44ed9fa17c2fddf6e73e2025-08-20T02:45:34ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-07-011414107110.3390/cells14141071The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in NeurotransmissionMatteo Bozzo0Emanuele Serafini1Giacomo Rosa2Virginia Bazzurro3Andrea Amaroli4Sara Ferrando5Michael Schubert6Simona Candiani7Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalyLaboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer (LBDV), Institut de la Mer de Villefranche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, FranceDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, 16132 Genoa, ItalySerine hydroxymethyltransferases (SHMTs) are key enzymes in one-carbon metabolism, with vertebrates possessing two paralogs, cytosolic SHMT1 and mitochondrial SHMT2, implicated in nucleotide biosynthesis and glycine metabolism. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary history of animal <i>Shmt</i> genes and analyze the expression patterns of <i>Shmt</i> genes in developing amphioxus (<i>Branchiostoma lanceolatum</i>). Phylogenetic analyses indicate the presence of <i>Shmt1</i> and <i>Shmt2</i> orthologs in deuterostomes, spiralians and placozoans, which is consistent with an ancient <i>Shmt</i> gene duplication event predating bilaterian diversification. Gene expression analyses in developing amphioxus show that <i>Shmt2</i> expression is confined to the somites and absent from neural tissues. In contrast, <i>Shmt1</i> is broadly expressed across germ layers, but its transcription is restricted to tissues characterized by strong cell proliferation. Notably, <i>Shmt1</i> expression in the nervous system does not match the distribution of glycinergic neuron populations, implying a negligible role in glycine neurotransmitter synthesis. Instead, the spatial correlation of <i>Shmt1</i> expression with mitotically active domains suggests a primary function in nucleotide biosynthesis via one-carbon metabolism. These findings indicate that SHMTs predominantly support cell proliferation rather than neurotransmission in amphioxus.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1071glycine biosynthesisdevelopmentevolutionserine hydroxymethyltransferaseglycinergic neuronsone-carbon metabolism |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Bozzo Emanuele Serafini Giacomo Rosa Virginia Bazzurro Andrea Amaroli Sara Ferrando Michael Schubert Simona Candiani The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission Cells glycine biosynthesis development evolution serine hydroxymethyltransferase glycinergic neurons one-carbon metabolism |
| title | The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission |
| title_full | The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission |
| title_fullStr | The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission |
| title_short | The Expression of <i>Shmt</i> Genes in Amphioxus Suggests a Role in Tissue Proliferation Rather than in Neurotransmission |
| title_sort | expression of i shmt i genes in amphioxus suggests a role in tissue proliferation rather than in neurotransmission |
| topic | glycine biosynthesis development evolution serine hydroxymethyltransferase glycinergic neurons one-carbon metabolism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1071 |
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