TY  - JOUR
A1  - Meyer, Axel
A1  - Morrissey, Jean M.
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - Recurrent origin of a sexually selected trait in Xiphophorus fishes inferred from a molecular phylogeny
N2  - DARWIN\(^1\) believed that sexual selection accounts for the evolution of exaggerated male ornaments, such as the sword-like caudal fin extensions of male fishes of the genus Xiphophorus, that appear detrimental to survival. Swordtails continue to feature prominently in empirical work and theories of sexual selection; the pre-existing bias hypothesis has been offered as an explanation for the evolution of swords in these fishes\(^{2,3}\). Based upon a largely morphological phylogeny, this hypothesis suggests that female preference to mate with sworded males arose in ancestrally swordless species, thus pre-dating the origin of the sword itself and directly driving its evolution. Here we present a molecular phylogeny (based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences) of Xiphophorus which differs from the traditional one: it indicates that the sword originated and was lost repeatedly. Our phylogeny suggests that the ancestor of the genus is more likely to have possessed a sword than not, thus questioning the applicability of the pre-existing bias hypothesis as an explanation for the cvolution of this sexually selected trait.
KW  - Physiologische Chemie
Y1  - 1994
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61569
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Malitschek, Barbara
A1  - Wittbrodt, Joachim
A1  - Fischer, Petra
A1  - Lammers, Reiner
A1  - Ullrich, Axel
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - Autocrine stimulation of the Xmrk receptor tyrosine kinase in Xiphophorus melanoma cells and identification of a source for the physiological ligand
N2  - The melanoma·inducing gene of Xiphophorus fish encodes the Xmrk receptor tyrosine kinase. U sing a highly specific antiserum p~oduced against the recombinant receptor expressed with a baculovirus, it is shown that Xmrk is the most abundant phosphotyrosine protein in fish melanoma and thus highly activated in the tumors. Studies on a melanoma cellline revealed that these cells produce an activity that considerably stimulates receptor autophosphorylation. The stimulating activity induces receptor down-regulation and can be depleted from the melanoma cellsupernatant by the immobilized recombinant receptor protein. The fish melanoma cells can thus be considered autocrine tumor cells providing a source for future purification and characterization of the Xmrk ligand.
KW  - Physiologische Chemie
Y1  - 1994
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61551
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Götz, Rudolf
A1  - Köster, Reinhard
A1  - Winkler, Christoph
A1  - Raulf, Friedrich
A1  - Lottspeich, Friedrich
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
A1  - Thoenen, Hans
T1  - Neurotrophin-6 is a new member of the nerve growth factor family
N2  - DURING vertebrale development, many neurons depend for survival and differentiation on their target cells\(^{1-3}\). The best documented mediator of such a retrograde trophic action is the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF)\(^1\). NGF and the other known members of tbe neurotrophin family, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT -3) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT -4/5) are conserved as distinct genes over large evolutionary distances\(^{4 -6}\). Here we report the cloning of neurotrophin-6 (NT -6), a new member of this family from the teleost fish Xiphophorus. NT -6 distinguishes itself from the other known neurotrophins in that it is not found as a soluble protein in the medium of producing cells. The addition of heparin (but not chondroitin) effects the release of NT -6 from cell surface and extracellular matrix molecules. Recombinant purified NT -6 has a spectrum of actions similar to NGF on chick sympathetic and sensory neurons, albeit with a lower potency. NT -6 is expressed in tbe embryonie valvulla cerebelli; expression persists in some adult tissues. The interaction of NT-6 with heparin-binding molecuJes may modulate its action in the nervous system .
KW  - Physiologische Chemie
Y1  - 1994
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61544
ER  -