Cloning and functional characterization of a retinoid X receptor orthologue in Platynereis dumerilii: An evolutionary and toxicological perspective.

In the present work we provide the first isolation and functional characterization of a RXR orthologue in an annelid species, the Platynereis dumerilii. Using an in vitro luciferase reporter assay we evaluated the annelid receptor ability to respond to ligand 9-cis-retinoic acid, TBT and TPT. Our results show that the annelid RXR responds to 9-cis-retinoic acid and to the organotins by activating reporter gene transcription. The findings suggest a conserved mode of action of the receptor in response to a common signaling molecule and modulation by organotin compounds between vertebrates and Lophotrochozoans.