title: Fibroblast growth factor signalling controls nervous system patterning and pigment cell formation in Ciona intestinalis.
abstract: During the development of the central nervous system (CNS), combinations of transcription factors and signalling molecules orchestrate patterning, specification and differentiation of neural cell types. In vertebrates, three types of melanin-containing pigment cells, exert a variety of functional roles including visual perception. Here we analysed the mechanisms underlying pigment cell specification within the CNS of a simple chordate, the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Ciona tadpole larvae exhibit a basic chordate body plan characterized by a small number of neural cells. We employed lineage-specific transcription profiling to characterize the expression of genes downstream of fibroblast growth factor signalling, which govern pigment cell formation. We demonstrate that FGF signalling sequentially imposes a pigment cell identity at the expense of anterior neural fates. We identify FGF-dependent and pigment cell-specific factors, including the small GTPase, Rab32/38 and demonstrated its requirement for the pigmentation of larval sensory organs.
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: Ashwani K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 1003, USA.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Razy-Krajka
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambardella
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: Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: di Bernardo
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology and Evolution Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Remo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanges
authors.affiliation: Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 1003, USA.
authors.forename: Lionel A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Christiaen
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ristoratore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000254:growth & development*; D018274:Electroporation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins