RRC ID 35148
Author Waki K, Imai KS, Satou Y.
Title Genetic pathways for differentiation of the peripheral nervous system in ascidians.
Journal Nat Commun
Abstract Ascidians belong to tunicates, the sister group of vertebrates. Peripheral nervous systems (PNSs) including epidermal sensory neurons (ESNs) in the trunk and dorsal tail regions of ascidian larvae are derived from cells adjacent to the neural plate, as in vertebrates. On the other hand, peripheral ESNs in the ventral tail region are derived from the ventral ectoderm under the control of BMP signalling, reminiscent of sensory neurons of amphioxus and protostomes. In this study, we show that two distinct mechanisms activate a common gene circuit consisting of Msx, Ascl.b, Tox, Delta.b and Pou4 in the dorsal and ventral regions to differentiate ESNs. Our results suggest that ventral ESNs of the ascidian larva are not directly homologous to vertebrate PNSs. The dorsal ESNs might have arisen via co-option of the original PNS gene circuit to the neural plate border in an ancestral chordate.
Volume 6
Pages 8719
Published 2015-10-30
DOI 10.1038/ncomms9719
PII ncomms9719
PMID 26515371
PMC PMC4640076
MeSH Animals Cell Differentiation Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Peripheral Nervous System / cytology Peripheral Nervous System / metabolism Proteins / genetics Proteins / metabolism Sensory Receptor Cells / cytology Sensory Receptor Cells / metabolism Urochordata / cytology Urochordata / genetics* Urochordata / growth & development* Urochordata / metabolism
IF 12.121
Times Cited 15
WOS Category DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Resource
C.intestinalis / (O.japonicus) Wild C. int