title: Chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferases are required for cell adhesion and morphogenesis in the Ciona intestinalis embryo.
abstract: Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a carbohydrate component of proteoglycans. Several types of sulfotransferases determine the pattern of CS sulfation, and thus regulate the biological functions of proteoglycans. The protochordate ascidians are the closest relatives of vertebrates, but the functions of their sulfotransferases have not been investigated. Here, we show that two chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferases (C4STs) play important roles in the embryonic morphogenesis of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Ci-C4ST-like1 is predominantly expressed in the epidermis and muscle. Epidermal and muscle cells became spherical upon the injection of a Ci-C4ST-like1-specific morpholino oligo (MO), thus suggesting weakened cell adhesion. Co-injection of a Ci-C4ST-like1-expressing transgene rescued the phenotype, suggesting that the effects of the MO were specific. Ci-C4ST-like3 was expressed in the central nervous system, muscle, and mesenchyme. A specific MO appeared to affect cell adhesion in the epidermis and muscle. Convergent extension movement of notochordal cells was also impaired. Forced expression of Ci-C4ST-like3 restored normal morphogenesis, suggesting that the effects of the MO were specific. The present study suggests that Ci-C4ST-like1 and Ci-C4ST-like3 are required for cell adhesion mainly in the epidermis and muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science, Kochi University, 2-5-1 Akebono-cho, Kochi-shi, Kochi, 780-8520, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tetsukawa
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D015238:Sulfotransferases
chemical_list: D015238:Sulfotransferases
keywords: ascidian; chondroitin sulfate; epidermis; morphogenesis; sulfotransferase