Jeffrey R Thompson1,2, Periklis Paganos3, Giovanna Benvenuto3, Maria Ina Arnone3, Paola Oliveri4,5. 1. Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. jeff.thompson@ucl.ac.uk. 2. UCL Center for Life's Origins and Evolution, London, UK. jeff.thompson@ucl.ac.uk. 3. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy. 4. Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. p.oliveri@ucl.ac.uk. 5. UCL Center for Life's Origins and Evolution, London, UK. p.oliveri@ucl.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the molecular and cellular processes that underpin animal development are crucial for understanding the diversity of body plans found on the planet today. Because of their abundance in the fossil record, and tractability as a model system in the lab, skeletons provide an ideal experimental model to understand the origins of animal diversity. We herein use molecular and cellular markers to understand the growth and development of the juvenile sea urchin (echinoid) skeleton. RESULTS: We developed a detailed staging scheme based off of the first ~ 4 weeks of post-metamorphic life of the regular echinoid Paracentrotus lividus. We paired this scheme with immunohistochemical staining for neuronal, muscular, and skeletal tissues, and fluorescent assays of skeletal growth and cell proliferation to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal growth and development of the sea urchin body plan. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments highlight the role of skeletogenic proteins in accretionary skeletal growth and cell proliferation in the addition of new metameric tissues. Furthermore, this work provides a framework for understanding the developmental evolution of sea urchin body plans on macroevolutionary timescales.
BACKGROUND: Understanding the molecular and cellular processes that underpin animal development are crucial for understanding the diversity of body plans found on the planet today. Because of their abundance in the fossil record, and tractability as a model system in the lab, skeletons provide an ideal experimental model to understand the origins of animal diversity. We herein use molecular and cellular markers to understand the growth and development of the juvenile sea urchin (echinoid) skeleton. RESULTS: We developed a detailed staging scheme based off of the first ~ 4 weeks of post-metamorphic life of the regular echinoid Paracentrotus lividus. We paired this scheme with immunohistochemical staining for neuronal, muscular, and skeletal tissues, and fluorescent assays of skeletal growth and cell proliferation to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal growth and development of the sea urchin body plan. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments highlight the role of skeletogenic proteins in accretionary skeletal growth and cell proliferation in the addition of new metameric tissues. Furthermore, this work provides a framework for understanding the developmental evolution of sea urchin body plans on macroevolutionary timescales.
Authors: Feng Gao; Jeffrey R Thompson; Elizabeth Petsios; Eric Erkenbrack; Rex A Moats; David J Bottjer; Eric H Davidson Journal: Dev Biol Date: 2015-01-30 Impact factor: 3.582
Authors: Michal Levin; Leon Anavy; Alison G Cole; Eitan Winter; Natalia Mostov; Sally Khair; Naftalie Senderovich; Ekaterina Kovalev; David H Silver; Martin Feder; Selene L Fernandez-Valverde; Nagayasu Nakanishi; David Simmons; Oleg Simakov; Tomas Larsson; Shang-Yun Liu; Ayelet Jerafi-Vider; Karina Yaniv; Joseph F Ryan; Mark Q Martindale; Jochen C Rink; Detlev Arendt; Sandie M Degnan; Bernard M Degnan; Tamar Hashimshony; Itai Yanai Journal: Nature Date: 2016-02-17 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: Samuel Zamora; Imran A Rahman; Colin D Sumrall; Adam P Gibson; Jeffrey R Thompson Journal: Proc Biol Sci Date: 2022-03-02 Impact factor: 5.349