title: Multiple roles for protein kinase C in gastropod embryogenesis.
abstract: Protein kinase C (PKC) contributes to the correct development of organisms, but its importance to the embryogenesis of molluscs is not yet known. We report here that PKC activation is cyclic within early developing embryos of the gastropod snail Lymnaea stagnalis, and that activation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) results in disorganised and developmentally arrested embryos within 24 h. Moreover, chronic modulation of PKC activation by PMA or by the PKC inhibitor GF109203X in early embryos results in altered rotation and gliding behaviours and heartbeat during development. Finally, dis-regulation of PKC activity during early development significantly increased the duration to hatching. Our findings thus support novel roles for PKC in L. stagnalis embryos, in several physiological contexts, providing further insights into the importance of protein kinases for gastropod development in general.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK.
authors.forename: Vainora
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zukaite
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK.
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK. t.walker@kingston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000196:embryology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
keywords: Embryo gliding; Embryo heartbeat; Embryo rotation; Gastropod embryogenesis; Protein kinase signalling