Molecular analysis of heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzyme machinery and characterization of heparan sulfate structure in Nematostella vectensis

2009 ◽  
Vol 419 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almir Feta ◽  
Anh-Tri Do ◽  
Fabian Rentzsch ◽  
Ulrich Technau ◽  
Marion Kusche-Gullberg
Keyword(s):  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Sea Anemone ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nematostella Vectensis ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Protein Ligands ◽  
Enzyme Families

HS (heparan sulfate) proteoglycans are key regulators of vital processes in the body. HS chains with distinct sequences bind to various protein ligands, such as growth factors and morphogens, and thereby function as important regulators of protein gradient formation and signal transduction. HS is synthesized through the concerted action of many different ER (endoplasmic reticulum) and Golgi-resident enzymes. In higher organisms, many of these enzymes occur in multiple isoforms that differ in substrate specificity and spatial and temporal expression. In order to investigate how the structural complexity of HS has evolved, in the present study we focused on the starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis), which belongs to the Anthozoa, which are considered to have retained many ancestral features. Members of all of the enzyme families involved in the generation and modification of HS were identified in Nematostella. Our results show that the enzymes are highly conserved throughout evolution, but the number of isoforms varies. Furthermore, the HS polymerases [Ext (exostosin) enzymes Ext1, Ext2 and Ext-like3] represent distinct subgroups, indicating that these three genes have already been present in the last common ancestor of Cnidaria and Bilateria. In situ hybridization showed up-regulation of certain enzymes in specific areas of the embryo at different developmental stages. The specific mRNA expression pattern of particular HS enzymes implies that they may play a specific role in HS modifications during larval development. Finally, biochemical analysis of Nematostella HS demonstrates that the sea anemone synthesizes a polysaccharide with a unique structure.

scholarly journals Topographical mapping of α- and β-keratins on developing chicken skin integuments: Functional interaction and evolutionary perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (49) ◽  
pp. E6770-E6779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Wu ◽  
Chen Siang Ng ◽  
Jie Yan ◽  
Yung-Chih Lai ◽  
Chih-Kuan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
The Body ◽  
Gene Family Evolution ◽  
Keratin Gene ◽  
Skin Appendages ◽  
Functional Forms

Avian integumentary organs include feathers, scales, claws, and beaks. They cover the body surface and play various functions to help adapt birds to diverse environments. These keratinized structures are mainly composed of corneous materials made of α-keratins, which exist in all vertebrates, and β-keratins, which only exist in birds and reptiles. Here, members of the keratin gene families were used to study how gene family evolution contributes to novelty and adaptation, focusing on tissue morphogenesis. Using chicken as a model, we applied RNA-seq and in situ hybridization to map α- and β-keratin genes in various skin appendages at embryonic developmental stages. The data demonstrate that temporal and spatial α- and β-keratin expression is involved in establishing the diversity of skin appendage phenotypes. Embryonic feathers express a higher proportion of β-keratin genes than other skin regions. In feather filament morphogenesis, β-keratins show intricate complexity in diverse substructures of feather branches. To explore functional interactions, we used a retrovirus transgenic system to ectopically express mutant α- or antisense β-keratin forms. α- and β-keratins show mutual dependence and mutations in either keratin type results in disrupted keratin networks and failure to form proper feather branches. Our data suggest that combinations of α- and β-keratin genes contribute to the morphological and structural diversity of different avian skin appendages, with feather-β-keratins conferring more possible composites in building intrafeather architecture complexity, setting up a platform of morphological evolution of functional forms in feathers.

scholarly journals Genomic insights of body plan transitions from bilateral to pentameral symmetry in Echinoderms

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongxin Li ◽  
Akihito Omori ◽  
Rachel L. Flores ◽  
Sheri Satterfield ◽  
Christine Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Body Plan ◽  
The Body ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Evolution And Development ◽  
Gene Sets ◽  
Green Sea Urchin ◽  
Feather Star

AbstractEchinoderms are an exceptional group of bilaterians that develop pentameral adult symmetry from a bilaterally symmetric larva. However, the genetic basis in evolution and development of this unique transformation remains to be clarified. Here we report newly sequenced genomes, developmental transcriptomes, and proteomes of diverse echinoderms including the green sea urchin (L. variegatus), a sea cucumber (A. japonicus), and with particular emphasis on a sister group of the earliest-diverged echinoderms, the feather star (A. japonica). We learned that the last common ancestor of echinoderms retained a well-organized Hox cluster reminiscent of the hemichordate, and had gene sets involved in endoskeleton development. Further, unlike in other animal groups, the most conserved developmental stages were not at the body plan establishing phase, and genes normally involved in bilaterality appear to function in pentameric axis development. These results enhance our understanding of the divergence of protostomes and deuterostomes almost 500 Mya.

scholarly journals Cerebroglycan: an integral membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is unique to the developing nervous system and expressed specifically during neuronal differentiation

1994 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
CS Stipp ◽  
ED Litwack ◽  
AD Lander
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Adherent Cells ◽  
Attachment Sites ◽  
Developing Neurons ◽  
Developing Rat ◽  
Developing Nervous System

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are found on the surface of all adherent cells and participate in the binding of growth factors, extracellular matrix glycoproteins, cell adhesion molecules, and proteases and antiproteases. We report here the cloning and pattern of expression of cerebroglycan, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored HSPG that is found in the developing rat brain (previously referred to as HSPG M13; Herndon, M. E., and A. D. Lander. 1990. Neuron. 4:949-961). The cerebroglycan core protein has a predicted molecular mass of 58.6 kD and five potential heparan sulfate attachment sites. Together with glypican (David, G., V. Lories, B. Decock, P. Marynen, J.-J. Cassiman, and H. Van den Berghe. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 111:3165-3176), it defines a family of integral membrane HSPGs characterized by GPI linkage and conserved structural motifs, including a pattern of 14 cysteine residues that is absolutely conserved. Unlike other known integral membrane HSPGs, including glypican and members of the syndecan family of transmembrane proteoglycans, cerebroglycan is expressed in only one tissue: the nervous system. In situ hybridization experiments at several developmental stages strongly suggest that cerebroglycan message is widely and transiently expressed by immature neurons, appearing around the time of final mitosis and disappearing after cell migration and axon outgrowth have been completed. These results suggest that cerebroglycan may fulfill a function related to the motile behaviors of developing neurons.

scholarly journals Cytoskeletal and synaptic polarity of LWamide-like+ ganglion neurons in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (21) ◽  
pp. jeb233197
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Stone ◽  
Gregory O. Kothe ◽  
Melissa M. Rolls ◽  
Timothy Jegla
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Sea Anemone ◽  
The Body ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Nematostella Vectensis ◽  
Nervous Systems ◽  
Microtubule Polarity ◽  
Sister Clade ◽  
Ganglion Neurons

ABSTRACTThe centralized nervous systems of bilaterian animals rely on directional signaling facilitated by polarized neurons with specialized axons and dendrites. It is not known whether axo-dendritic polarity is exclusive to bilaterians or was already present in early metazoans. We therefore examined neurite polarity in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria). Cnidarians form a sister clade to bilaterians and share many neuronal building blocks characteristic of bilaterians, including channels, receptors and synaptic proteins, but their nervous systems comprise a comparatively simple net distributed throughout the body. We developed a tool kit of fluorescent polarity markers for live imaging analysis of polarity in an identified neuron type, large ganglion cells of the body column nerve net that express the LWamide-like neuropeptide. Microtubule polarity differs in bilaterian axons and dendrites, and this in part underlies polarized distribution of cargo to the two types of processes. However, in LWamide-like+ neurons, all neurites had axon-like microtubule polarity suggesting that they may have similar contents. Indeed, presynaptic and postsynaptic markers trafficked to all neurites and accumulated at varicosities where neurites from different neurons often crossed, suggesting the presence of bidirectional synaptic contacts. Furthermore, we could not identify a diffusion barrier in the plasma membrane of any of the neurites like the axon initial segment barrier that separates the axonal and somatodendritic compartments in bilaterian neurons. We conclude that at least one type of neuron in Nematostella vectensis lacks the axo-dendritic polarity characteristic of bilaterian neurons.

Correlated Studies of Cellular Interactions Using TEM, Freeze Etching, and SEM

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 320-321
Author(s):  
J. P. Revel
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Cellular Interactions ◽  
Serial Sections ◽  
Cell Sheets ◽  
Freeze Etching ◽  
Early Developmental

Movement of individual cells or of cell sheets and complex patterns of folding play a prominent role in the early developmental stages of the embryo. Our understanding of these processes is based on three- dimensional reconstructions laboriously prepared from serial sections, and from autoradiographic and other studies. Many concepts have also evolved from extrapolation of investigations of cell movement carried out in vitro. The scanning electron microscope now allows us to examine some of these events in situ. It is possible to prepare dissections of embryos and even of tissues of adult animals which reveal existing relationships between various structures more readily than used to be possible vithout an SEM.

Scaffolds for Drug Delivery in Tissue Engineering

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas V. Gaikwad ◽  
Abasaheb B. Patil ◽  
Madhuri V. Gaikwad
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Cartilage Regeneration ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
The Body ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
In Situ Gel ◽  
Heart Muscle Cells

Scaffolds are used for drug delivery in tissue engineering as this system is a highly porous structure to allow tissue growth.  Although several tissues in the body can regenerate, other tissue such as heart muscles and nerves lack regeneration in adults. However, these can be regenerated by supplying the cells generated using tissue engineering from outside. For instance, in many heart diseases, there is need for heart valve transplantation and unfortunately, within 10 years of initial valve replacement, 50–60% of patients will experience prosthesis associated problems requiring reoperation. This could be avoided by transplantation of heart muscle cells that can regenerate. Delivery of these cells to the respective tissues is not an easy task and this could be done with the help of scaffolds. In situ gel forming scaffolds can also be used for the bone and cartilage regeneration. They can be injected anywhere and can take the shape of a tissue defect, avoiding the need for patient specific scaffold prefabrication and they also have other advantages. Scaffolds are prepared by biodegradable material that result in minimal immune and inflammatory response. Some of the very important issues regarding scaffolds as drug delivery systems is reviewed in this article.

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