title: Effect of inducers and inhibitors on the expression of bcs genes involved in cypris larval attachment and metamorphosis of the barnacles Balanus amphitrite.
abstract: We examined the expression of six barnacle cypris larva-specific gene (bcs) cDNAs (bcs-1, -2, -3, -4,- 5, and -6), the bcs genes, by using Northern blot analysis under various conditions that induced or inhibited cypris larval attachment and metamorphosis. Inducers of larval attachment and metamorphosis, such as a neurotransmitter, tended to increase the expression of bcs mRNAs. All inhibitors of larval attachment and metamorphosis, such as G protein-coupled receptor agonists/antagonists, inhibitors of tyrosine kinase-linked receptors and inhibitors of their signal transduction, suppressed the expression of bcs-6 mRNA alone, but affected differentially other bcs genes. These results strongly suggest that the bcs-6 product plays a key role in triggering the attachment and metamorphosis of cypris larvae into juvenile barnacles. The roles of four late bcs genes (bcs-3,-4, -5 and -6) are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biotechnology Institute Co. Ltd., Shimizu Laboratory, Shizuoka, Japan. yokazaki@rite.or.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shizuri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism*; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D001468:Thoracica; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019476:Insect Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases