title: Expression of a single prominin homolog in the embryo of the model chordate Ciona intestinalis.
abstract: Prominins are a family of pentaspan transmembrane glycoproteins, expressed in various types of cells, including stem and cancer stem cells in mammals. Prominin-1 is critical in generating and maintaining the structure of the photoreceptors in the eye since mutations in the PROM1 gene are associated with retinal and macular degeneration in human. In this study, we identified a single prominin homolog, Ci-prom1/2, in the model chordate the ascidian Ciona intestinalis and characterized Ci-prom1/2 expression profile in relation to photoreceptor differentiation during Ciona embryonic development. In situ hybridization experiments show Ci-prom1/2 transcripts localized in the developing central nervous system, predominantly in photoreceptor cell precursors as early as neurula stage and expression is maintained through larva stage in photoreceptor cells around the simple eye. We also isolated the regulatory region responsible for the specific spatio-temporal expression of the Ci-prom1/2 in photoreceptor cell lineage. Collectively, we report that Ci-prom1/2 is a novel molecular marker for ascidian photoreceptor cells and might represent a potential source to enlarge the knowledge about the function of prominin family in photoreceptor cell evolution and development.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Monia T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Racioppi
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: filomena.ristoratore@szn.it.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ristoratore
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides
keywords: Eye; Phoreceptor cells; Regulatory region