title: Hox10-regulated endodermal cell migration is essential for development of the ascidian intestine.
abstract: Hox cluster genes play crucial roles in development of the metazoan antero-posterior axis. Functions of Hox genes in patterning the central nervous system and limb buds are well known. They are also expressed in chordate endodermal tissues, where their roles in endodermal development are still poorly understood. In the invertebrate chordate, Ciona intestinalis, endodermal tissues are in a premature state during the larval stage, and they differentiate into the digestive tract during metamorphosis. In this study, we showed that disruption of a Hox gene, Ci-Hox10, prevented intestinal formation. Ci-Hox10-knock-down larvae displayed defective migration of endodermal strand cells. Formation of a protrusion, which is important for cell migration, was disrupted in these cells. The collagen type IX gene is a downstream target of Ci-Hox10, and is negatively regulated by Ci-Hox10 and a matrix metalloproteinase ortholog, prior to endodermal cell migration. Inhibition of this regulation prevented cellular migration. These results suggest that Ci-Hox10 regulates endodermal strand cell migration by forming a protrusion and by reconstructing the extracellular matrix.
authors.affiliation: Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan. Electronic address: nkawai@a7.keio.jp.
authors.forename: Narudo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.affiliation: Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamioosawa, Hachiohji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamioosawa, Hachiohji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saiga
authors.affiliation: Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors.forename: Nori
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.affiliation: Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasakura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D024081:Collagen Type IX / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004707:Endoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D024081:Collagen Type IX; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins
keywords: Cell migration; Collagen type IX; Extracellular matrix; Hox; Intestine; Protrusion