First published online August 2, 2004
Development 131, 1604e (2004)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Ascidian networking
The ascidian tadpole possesses a basic chordate body plan with a simple
mode of development; almost all cells are restricted to a single tissue type
by the 110-cell stage. On p.
4047, Imai and colleagues report, in a transcriptional survey of
Ciona intestinalis embryonic development, that only 65 transcription
factors are zygotically expressed at or before this 110-cell stage, implying
that the ascidian requires only 65 transcription factors for larval tissue
specification. To see how these transcriptional factors might operate in
transcriptional networks, the authors next suppressed three genes essential
for endomesoderm specification – ß-catenin, FoxD and
Fgf9/16/20 – then assayed for changes in the
regulation of the transcription factors normally expressed in the early
embryo. From this, the researchers were able to deduce possible regulatory
relationships between transcription factors. They predict that this approach
will lead to the construction of gene networks, revealing fundamental insights
into chordate development.
Related articles in Development:
- Gene expression profiles of transcription factors and signaling molecules in the ascidian embryo: towards a comprehensive understanding of gene networks
- Kaoru S. Imai, Kyosuke Hino, Kasumi Yagi, Nori Satoh, and Yutaka Satou
Development 2004 131: 4047-4058.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
