Selective accumulation of germ‐line associated gene products in early development of the sea star and distinct differences from germ‐line development in the sea urchin. Issue 4 (25th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fresques, Tara; Zazueta‐Novoa, Vanesa; Reich, Adrian; Wessel, Gary M.
• Is Part Of: Developmental dynamics. Volume 243:Issue 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 568
• Page End: 587
• Publication Date: 2013-12-25
• Subjects: Morphogenesis -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; Anatomie -- Périodiques; Biologie du développement -- Périodiques; 571.833
• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-8388

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold> <underline>Background</underline> <underline>:</underline> </bold> Echinodermata is a diverse phylum, a sister group to chordates, and contains diverse organisms that may be useful to understand varied mechanisms of germ‐line specification. <bold><underline>Results:</underline></bold> We tested 23 genes in development of the sea star <italic>Patiria miniata</italic> that fall into five categories: (1) Conserved germ‐line factors; (2) Genes involved in the inductive mechanism of germ‐line specification; (3) Germ‐line associated genes; (4) Molecules involved in left–right asymmetry; and (5) Genes involved in regulation and maintenance of the genome during early embryogenesis. Overall, our results support the contention that the posterior enterocoel is a source of the germ line in the sea star <italic>P. miniata</italic>. <bold><underline>Conclusions:</underline></bold> The germ line in this organism appears to be specified late in embryogenesis, and in a pattern more consistent with inductive interactions amongst cells. This is distinct from the mechanism seen in sea urchins, a close relative of the sea star clad. We propose that <italic>P. miniata</italic> may serve as a valuable model to study inductive mechanisms of germ‐cell specification and when compared with germ‐line formation in the sea urchin <italic>S. purpuratus</italic> may reveal developmental transitions that occur in the evolution of inherited and inductive mechanisms of germ‐line specification. <italic>Developmental Dynamics 243:568–587, 2014</italic>. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>