scholarly journals Effect of non-histone chromosomal proteins on transcription in vitro in sea-urchin

1978 ◽  
Vol 174 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Di Mauro ◽  
F Pedone ◽  
M Pomponi
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Chromosomal Proteins ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Transcription Process ◽  
Initiation Step ◽  
Transcription In Vitro ◽  
Transcription 3

Non-histone chromosomal proteins prepared from chromosomal material of the sea-urchin Paracentrotus lividus affect RNA synthesis in vitro. 1. The extent of transcription can be radically changed from inhibition to stimulation, depending on the DNA/non-histone chromosomal proteins ratio. 2. A correlation exists between stage of development and influence on transcription. 3. Non-histone chromosomal proteins exert their action by intervening directly on some initiation step of RNA synthesis, as shown by the numbers of initiation events that take place in their presence or absence. 4. Stimulatory activity is observed only in restrictive conditions of ionic strength and temperature. These observations are in agreement with models that predict for non-histone chromosomal proteins a regulatory role on the transcription process exerted through a modulation of promoter availability.

Comparing in vivo and in vitro approaches to study the hormonal regulation of sea urchin reproduction

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1363-1372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Mercurio ◽  
Michela Sugni
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Future Research

Although in vivo and in vitro approaches appear to be very different, they are related and complementary techniques and both are essential for the investigation of diverse biological topics. The employment of both techniques was considered particularly appropriate to investigate the role of 17β-oestradiol and testosterone in echinoid reproductive biology. The relationship between sex-steroids and echinoid reproduction has not been clearly determined yet, due to the highly variable and sometimes contrasting results obtained from steroid administration experiments. These might be due to the activation of protective metabolic mechanisms that can prevent the exogenous molecules from exerting their biological functions, as observed in our previous research. To clarify these aspects, in the present study we explored sex-steroid involvement in the reproduction of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, employing both in vivo and in vitro approaches: (1) an experiment involving hormone dietary administration was performed and different reproductive parameters were deeply analysed; (2) ovarian cells were cultured in the presence of the same steroids and morphological and biochemical analyses were carried out. According to our results, sex-steroids appear not to be involved in sea urchin gonad development and gamete maturation, as neither in vivo administration nor in vitro exposure influenced gonad and gamete growth. In addition, in vitro hormonal treatment did not affect sea urchin Major Yolk Protein content. Overall, the present work complements our previous research providing information on sex-steroid involvement in echinoid reproduction and illustrates new methodological approaches that will be useful for future research on invertebrate biology and physiology.

Nectins in sea urchin eggs and embryos

1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukio Yokota ◽  
Valeria Matranga ◽  
Francesca Zito ◽  
Melchiorre Cervello ◽  
Eizo Nakano
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Adhesion Protein ◽  
Protein Properties

The extracellular matrix of the sea urchin involves a protein with a molecular weight of 180 kDa (sea urchin fibronectin), which corresponds to mammalian fibronectin, and a nectin specific to Echinoidea with a molecular weight of 105–115 kDa (sea urchin nectin). Sea urchin fibronectin and sea urchin nectin have cell adhesion protein properties. They are, however, different from each other in biochemical properties, biological functions and intraembryonic distribution. Sea urchin fibronectin isolated from the sea urchin ovary accelerates scattering of micromere-derived cells and promotes spicule formation of micromeres in vitro. Sea urchin nectins identified so far in Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck), Temnopleurus hardwicki (Gray) and Pseudocentrotus depressus (A. Agassiz) are presumably homologous molecules displayed in different species. They seem to be secreted into the hyaline layer as its constituents, and to play some role in morphogenesis of the embryo.

scholarly journals Diatom-Derived Polyunsaturated Aldehydes Activate Similar Cell Death Genes in Two Different Systems: Sea Urchin Embryos and Human Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Galasso ◽  
Susanna Celentano ◽  
Maria Costantini ◽  
Salvatore D’Aniello ◽  
Adrianna Ianora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Marine Organism ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Human Cell Line ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Similar Cell ◽  
Polyunsaturated Aldehydes

Programmed cell death, such as apoptosis and autophagy, are key processes that are activated early on during development, leading to remodelling in embryos and homeostasis in adult organisms. Genomic conservation of death factors has been largely investigated in the animal and plant kingdoms. In this study, we analysed, for the first time, the expression profile of 11 genes involved in apoptosis (extrinsic and intrinsic pathways) and autophagy in sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus embryos exposed to antiproliferative polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs), and we compared these results with those obtained on the human cell line A549 treated with the same molecules. We found that sea urchins and human cells activated, at the gene level, a similar cell death response to these compounds. Despite the evolutionary distance between sea urchins and humans, we observed that the activation of apoptotic and autophagic genes in response to cytotoxic compounds is a conserved process. These results give first insight on death mechanisms of P. lividus death mechanisms, also providing additional information for the use of this marine organism as a useful in vitro model for the study of cell death signalling pathways activated in response to chemical compounds.

scholarly journals RNA transcription in myocardial-cell nuclei during postnatal development. A study establishing an assay system for transcription in vitro

1988 ◽  
Vol 256 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D McCully ◽  
C C Liew
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Myocardial Cell ◽  
Assay System ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Cell Nuclei ◽  
Rna Transcription ◽  
Nuclear Rna ◽  
Transcription In Vitro

A system for RNA transcription in vitro was established in order to determine the relative rate of RNA synthesis in neonatal and adult rat myocardial cells. This assay system optimizes the incorporation of [3H]UMP into RNA by using 3.5 x 10(7) myocardial-cell nuclei, and minimizes RNA degradation for at least 1 h in transcription in vitro, by the addition of human placental RNAase inhibitor. A 100% increase in the incorporation of [3H]UMP into myocardial-cell RNA was found on addition of this inhibitor. Myocardial-cell nuclei derived from 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and greater than 100-day-old rat hearts indicated that there is a progressive decrease in RNA synthesis with age. A 3-fold increase in RNA synthesis in 5-day-old myocardial cell nuclei as compared with 20-day-old rat heart was found. RNA synthesis in the adult myocardial cell nuclei decreased more than 10-fold in comparison with the 5-day-old newborn. The incorporation of [3H]UMP into rat liver nuclear RNA was 3-fold greater than in the myocardial-cell nuclear RNA, even when compared with the highly active transcription of 12-day-old heart nuclei. In order to determine the relationship between total RNA synthesis and the extent of specific gene expression in myocardial-cell nuclei during development, two distinct cDNA probes were used for Northern-blot analysis. Our results indicate that myosin-heavy-chain gene expression is remarkably decreased with age, whereas the ‘housekeeping’ gene is continually expressed independently of age.

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