RRC ID 73421
Author Yamakawa S, Hayashi Y, Kako K, Sasakura Y, Morino Y, Wada H.
Title Mechanism underlying retinoic acid-dependent metamorphosis in the starfish.
Journal Dev Biol
Abstract The evolution of the biphasic life cycle in marine invertebrates has attracted considerable interest in zoology. We recently provided evidence that retinoic acid (RA) is involved in the regulation of metamorphosis in starfish. It also functions in life cycle transitions of jellyfish (cnidaria). Thus, documenting the evolutionarily conserved role of RA in such transitions will help to trace the life cycle evolution of bilaterians and cnidarians. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanisms by which RA signaling is involved in the commencement of metamorphosis in starfish. First, we measured RA levels during the larval and metamorphosis stages by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We found that all-trans RA levels in the larval body are high before larvae acquire competence for metamorphosis, suggesting that the commencement of metamorphosis is not controlled by increased RA synthesis. Furthermore, the suppression of rar gene expression by TALEN-mediated gene knockout revealed that RA receptor (RAR) is essential for metamorphosis. These observations suggest that the initiation of metamorphosis is regulated at the level of synthesized RA to activate RAR. We discuss the divergence of ligand molecules and receptors during the evolution of life cycle regulation.
Volume 492
Pages 119-125
Published 2022-12-1
DOI 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.10.002
PII S0012-1606(22)00191-9
PMID 36240875
MeSH Animals Larva / metabolism Life Cycle Stages Metamorphosis, Biological / physiology Receptors, Retinoic Acid / genetics Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism Starfish* Tretinoin* / metabolism Tretinoin* / pharmacology
IF 2.896
Resource
C.intestinalis / (O.japonicus) pHTB-TALEN-NG::2A::mCherry