Figure 6

Evolution of the dynactin complex with respect to the species evolution in Metazoa. The tree represents the most widely accepted phylogenetic tree of the Metazoa. At each leaf one representative species of the branch is printed. Branch lengths are arbitrary. Coloured boxes show gene duplications of dynactin subunits. Coloured boxes with a red asterisk illustrate the introduction of alternatively spliced isoforms of the corresponding protein in vertebrates. White boxes denote gene loss events. The two whole genome duplication events at the origin of the vertebrates are shown (1R and 2R). The second duplication might also have happened in the Gnathostomata branch (dashed arrow). Due to missing data the duplication of the Cap1 and Arp1 genes cannot unambiguously be dated and could have happened either after the 1R event or after the divergence of the Hyperoartia.