title: The dynamic gene expression patterns of transcription factors constituting the sea urchin aboral ectoderm gene regulatory network.
abstract: The temporal and spatial expression patterns of regulatory genes are required for building a gene regulatory network (GRN). The current ectoderm GRN model for the sea urchin embryo includes pregastrular specification functions in the oral (OE) and aboral ectoderm (AE). Unlike the OE, which is resolved into several subdomains, the AE is considered a simpler territory due to the lack of detailed gene expression studies in this territory. Here, we perform temporal and spatial gene expression studies on the eight transcription factor genes constituting the AE GRN. Based on the differential gene expression patterns, we conclude that the AE contains at least three subdomains at the mesenchyme blastula stage. We also performed immunostaining for pSmad1/5/8 to monitor the activation of the BMP signaling pathway. The dynamic changes in the expression patterns of these transcription factor genes and the nuclearization of pSmad1/5/8 may provide a foundation for resolving the AE GRN.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Jyun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yi-Hsien
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D047270:Strongylocentrotus purpuratus / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C088334:Distal-less homeobox proteins; C104162:Hmx protein, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; C097348:T-Box Domain Protein 2; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors