Gene regulatory networks for ectoderm specification in sea urchin embryos.
The current gene regulatory network (GRN) of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryo describes the specification of the endomesodermal territories. However, the specification of the adjacent ectodermal territories of the embryo has been far less explored. Several recent studies on the cis-regulatory analysis of nodal and the early oral ectoderm determinants have provided clues on how the specification of this territory is initiated. Recently, a large-scale of gene regulatory network analysis was carried out in an effort to build the ectoderm specification GRN. The deduced ectodermal GRN model provides the first peek at the overall picture of ectoderm specification in the sea urchin embryo. This review integrates the current knowledge on the specification of the ectoderm by linking recent discoveries to the GRN model to understand the process of ectoderm specification in sea urchin embryos.
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan. yhsu@gate.sinica.edu.tw
Yi-Hsien
YH
Su
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*