Identification of Novel Factors in Mesoderm Development

The mesoderm is one of the germ layers formed during the development of the human embryo. This layer leads to the formation of important organs like the heart, muscle, and some organs of the urogenital system. In this article, the phylogenetic patterns of five genes that are key drivers of the development of mesoderm, including EOMES, Brachyury, TBX6, MESP1, and NKX2-5, were investigated. Three of these genes (EOMES, Brachyury, TBX6) displayed closely correlated phylogenetic profiles. These profiles were used to identify novel genes potentially involved in the development of mesoderm, and to suggest new biological pathways that these three genes may be involved in. Our established method of phylogenetic profiling, PrePhyloPro, predicted 29 genes to have correlations with the three mesodermal genes. A Pubmed search revealed that 6 of the 29 genes were known to affect the development of mesoderm or highly expressed in the mesoderm (without an established developmental function). 6 other genes were involved in the development of mesoderm derivatives like cardiac mesoderm, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoiesis, differentiation of adipocytes, and the urogenital system. There was no finding of the role of the remaining genes in mesoderm or mesoderm derivatives. Our studies suggest the involvement of these genes in the development of mesoderm or mesodermal lineage specification.