Lettieri A et al. (2015), Ciona intestinalis as a marine model system to ...

ECB-ART-43885

Mar Drugs 2015 Mar 17;133:1451-65. doi: 10.3390/md13031451.

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Ciona intestinalis as a marine model system to study some key developmental genes targeted by the diatom-derived aldehyde decadienal.

Lettieri A , Esposito R , Ianora A , Spagnuolo A .

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The anti-proliferative effects of diatoms, described for the first time in copepods, have also been demonstrated in benthic invertebrates such as polychaetes, sea urchins and tunicates. In these organisms PUAs (polyunsaturated aldehydes) induce the disruption of gametogenesis, gamete functionality, fertilization, embryonic mitosis, and larval fitness and competence. These inhibitory effects are due to the PUAs, produced by diatoms in response to physical damage as occurs during copepod grazing. The cell targets of these compounds remain largely unknown. Here we identify some of the genes targeted by the diatom PUA 2-trans-4-trans-decadienal (DD) using the tunicate Ciona intestinalis. The tools, techniques and genomic resources available for Ciona, as well as the suitability of Ciona embryos for medium-to high-throughput strategies, are key to their employment as model organisms in different fields, including the investigation of toxic agents that could interfere with developmental processes. We demonstrate that DD can induce developmental aberrations in Ciona larvae in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, through a preliminary analysis, DD is shown to affect the expression level of genes involved in stress response and developmental processes.

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Genes referenced: LOC100887844 LOC115919910

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References [+] :

Caldwell, The influence of bioactive oxylipins from marine diatoms on invertebrate reproduction and development. 2009, Pubmed



	Figure 3. Aberrant Ciona phenotypes. Hatched larvae after DD treatment on fertilized Ciona eggs ((A) CTRL; (B) 0.30 µg·mL−1; (C) 0.35 µg·mL−1; (D) 0.40 µg·mL−1; (E) 0.45 µg·mL−1). (A’–D’) Magnification of the tails showing the progressively altered structure (B’–D’) compared to the control (A’).
	Figure 4. Regulation of stress genes. The plot represents the regulation of stress genes after DD treatment on fertilized C. intestinalis eggs. The expression ratios (from the Pfaffl equation) [13] ± standard deviation (sd) are indicated on the y-axis. DD concentrations are reported on the x-axis and are given as µg·mL−1. The legend on the top indicates the colors associated to the genes.
	Figure 5. Regulation of developmental genes. The plot represents the regulation of developmental genes after DD treatment on fertilized C. intestinalis eggs. Expression ratios (from the Pfaffl equation) ± standard deviation (sd) are indicated on the y-axis. DD concentrations are reported on the x-axis and are given as µg·mL−1. The legend on the top indicates the colors associated to the genes.