Abstract
Sea urchin embryos begin zygotic transcription shortly after the egg is fertilized. Throughout the cleavage stages a series of transcription factors are activated and, along with signaling through a number of pathways, at least 15 different cell types are specified by the beginning of gastrulation. Experimentally, perturbation of contributing transcription factors, signals and receptors and their molecular consequences enabled the assembly of an extensive gene regulatory network model. That effort, pioneered and led by Eric Davidson and his laboratory, with many additional insights provided by other laboratories, provided the sea urchin community with a valuable resource. Here we describe the approaches used to enable the assembly of an advanced gene regulatory network model describing molecular diversification during early development. We then provide examples to show how a relatively advanced authenticated network can be used as a tool for discovery of how diverse developmental mechanisms are controlled and work.
Highlights
Sea urchin embryos begin zygotic transcription shortly after the egg is fertilized
Sea urchin Developmental gene regulatory networks (dGRNs) describe the sequence of specification of all cells in the embryo up to the end of gastrulation. dGRN topology models produced in BioTapestry record the current status of the network in S. purpuratus
In its current form, the sea urchin dGRN includes more than 100 transcription factors and a number of signaling pathways, and in most cases multiple laboratories have validated each connection in S. purpuratus, and most are the same in Lytechinus and Paracentrotus
Summary
Sea urchin dGRNs describe the sequence of specification of all cells in the embryo up to the end of gastrulation. dGRN topology models produced in BioTapestry (http://sugp.caltech.edu/endomes/) record the current status of the network in S. purpuratus. We describe how the dGRNs have been used to inform patterning mechanisms, especially those necessary to produce the larval skeleton. We show how they have been useful in gaining a greater understanding of an EMT and a directed cell movement mechanism, both components of morphogenesis. That ability has enormous power because it allows one to interrogate, dissect, and understand how that cell type arises and how it works in detail. The information in the dGRN is useful both for gaining an intrinsic understanding of how developmental control circuitry works and as a tool for understanding patterning, morphogenesis, and evolutionary change. Grant information Support for this article was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health (RO1-HD14483, PO1-HD03705 to DRM)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
