Towards a systems-level understanding of development in the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Elizabeth A; Jékely, Gáspár
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in genetics & development. Volume 39(2016)
• Page Start: 175
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Genetics -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Developmental genetics -- Periodicals; 576.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2016.07.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-437X

Abstract

Abstract : Platynereis dumerilii is a segmented marine worm from the phylum Annelida, a member of the Lophotrochozoans. Platynereis is easily maintained in the lab and exhibits a highly stereotypic development through spiral cleavage with a small, transparent, free-swimming larva highly suitable for microscopy studies. A protocol for embryo microinjection in Platynereis has enabled several genetic tools to be developed, paving the way for functional studies. Recent Platynereis studies have provided insights into the function of several signaling pathways in development. Platynereis has also proven a useful model system for comparative evolutionary developmental studies, allowing the formation of new hypotheses on the evolution of neuroendocrine signaling, body patterning, and organ development. Combining existing large datasets of spatial gene expression mapping, cell lineage mapping, and neuronal circuits with functional analyses of developmental genes represents a promising approach for future studies aiming at a systems-level understanding of development in Platynereis .