A discrete 10-kDa polypeptide (10K) is expressed from early stages in the embryonic chicken lens. Since this has potential as a marker for lens cell development, 10K and its homologues mouse human lenses were identified by protein sequencing cloning. Surprisingly, proteins appear to be identical lymphokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), originally activated T cells. Using microdissection PCR techniques, we find that expression of 10K/MIF strongly correlated with...

Metamorphosis (Gr. meta- "change" + morphe "form") as a biological process is generally attributed to subset of animals: most famously insects and amphibians, but some fish many marine invertebrates well. We held symposium at the 2006 Society for Integrative Comparative Biology (SICB) annual meeting in Orlando, FL (USA) discuss metamorphosis comparative context. Specifically, we considered possibility that term "metamorphosis" could be rightly applied non-animals well, including fungi,...

Metamorphosis in marine invertebrate larvae is a dynamic, environmentally dependent process that integrates ontogeny with habitat selection. The capacity of many to survive and maintain metamorphic competence the absence environmental cues has been hypothesized be an adaptive convergence (Hadfield others 2001). A survey literature reveals single generalized hypothesis about as not sufficient account for interspecific variation this character. In attempt capture variation, we discuss...

Marine invertebrates commonly produce larvae that disperse in ocean waters before settling into adult shoreline habitat. Chemical and other seafloor-associated cues often facilitate this latter transition. However, the range of effectiveness such is limited to small spatial scales, creating challenges for finding suitable sites at which settle, especially given they may be carried many kilometers by currents during their planktonic phase. One possible solution use additional, broader-scale...

The recent collapse of predatory sunflower sea stars ( Pycnopodia helianthoides ) owing to star wasting disease (SSWD) is hypothesized have contributed proliferation urchin barrens and losses kelp forests on the North American west coast. We used experiments a model test whether restored populations may help recover through their consumption nutritionally poor purple urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus typical barrens. consumed 0.68 S. d −1 , our sensitivity analysis shows that magnitude...

The sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, was a top benthic predator throughout its former range from Alaska to northern Mexico, until populations were devastated starting in 2013 by disease known as seastar wasting. subsequent absence of stars California waters coincident with dramatic ecological phase shift healthy bull kelp forests (Nereocystis luetkeana) barrens formed purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), prey stars. Modeling suggests that restoration and resilience...

Abstract Sea star wasting syndrome (SSWS) has affected numerous species of sea star, with populations Pycnopodia helianthoides (Brandt, 1835) left most at risk. As their are struggling to recover, it is important gain a better understanding the impacts that multiple stressors in habitats can have on populations. Contaminant particular increasing importance, as aquatic organisms be exposed dynamic range contaminants from nearby anthropogenic activity may affect future recovery efforts. This...

Abstract The insect ovary is a modular structure, the functional unit of which ovariole. Ovariole number positively correlated with potential reproductive output. Among drosophilids (Insecta: Diptera), ovariole shows both phenotypic plasticity and substantial interspecific interpopulational variation. Here we examine mechanistic connection between genetically fixed variation in within melanogaster species group. When laboratory population Drosophila was reared under reduced food conditions,...

Recent work on a diverse array of echinoderm species has demonstrated, as is true in amphibians, that thyroid hormone (TH) accelerates development to metamorphosis. Interestingly, the feeding larvae several sea urchins seem obtain TH through their diet planktonic algae (exogenous source), whereas nonfeeding sand dollar Peronella japonica produce themselves (endogenous source). Here we examine effects (thyroxine) and synthesis inhibitor (thiourea) Dendraster excentricus, with larva. We report...

Summary Evolutionary transitions in larval nutritional mode have occurred on numerous occasions independently many marine invertebrate phyla. Although the evolutionary transition from feeding to nonfeeding development has received considerable attention through both experimental and theoretical studies, mechanisms underlying change life history remain poorly understood. Facultative larvae (larvae that can feed but will complete metamorphosis without food) presumably represent an intermediate...

Recent work on a diverse array of echinoderm species has demonstrated, as is true in amphibians, that thyroid hormone (TH) accelerates development to metamorphosis. Interestingly, the feeding larvae several sea urchins seem obtain TH through their diet planktonic algae (exogenous source), whereas nonfeeding sand dollar Peronella japonica produce themselves (endogenous source). Here we examine effects (thyroxine) and synthesis inhibitor (thiourea) Dendraster excentricus, with larva. We report...

Morphological similarities between organisms may be due to either homology or homoplasy. Homologous structures arise by common descent from an ancestral form, whereas homoplasious are independently derived in the respective lineages. The finding that similar ontogenetic mechanisms underlie production of both lineages is not sufficient evidence homology, as such also parallel evolution. Parallelisms a class homoplasy which two have come up with same solution using mechanism. other main...

η-Crystallin is a taxon-specific crystallin, major component of the eye lens in elephant shrews (Macroscelidea). Sequence analysis η-crystallin from two genera and expression recombinant show that protein cytoplasmic (class 1) aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1, EC) with activity for oxidation retinaldehyde to retinoic acid. Unlike many other mammals, have ALDH1 genes. One encodes ALDH1/η-crystallin which, addition its very high lens, also predominant form expressed parts eye. The second gene...

The purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, has long been the focus of developmental and ecological studies, its recently-sequenced genome spawned a diversity functional genomics approaches. S. purpuratus an indirect mode with pluteus larva that transforms after 1–3 months in plankton into juvenile urchin. Compared to insects frogs, mechanisms underlying correspondingly dramatic metamorphosis urchins remain poorly understood. In order take advantage modern techniques further our...

Metamorphosis is a substantial morphological transition between 2 multicellular phases in an organism's life cycle, often marking the passage from prereproductive to reproductive stage. It generally involves major physiological changes and shift habitat feeding mode, can be subdivided into extended phase of change and/or remodeling, shorter-term (for example, marine invertebrate "settlement," insect "adult eclosion," mushroom fruiting body emergence) where actual occurs. Disparate...

Complex life cycles have evolved independently numerous times in marine animals as well disparate algae. Such histories typically involve a dispersive immature stage followed by settlement and metamorphosis to an adult on the sea floor. One commonality among exhibiting transitions of this type is that their larvae pass through ‘precompetent’ period which they do not respond localized cues, before entering ‘competent’ period, during cues can induce settlement. Despite widespread existence...

Spectroscopic markers characteristic of reference glycosaminoglycan molecules were identified previously based on their vibrational signatures. Infrared spectral signatures glycosaminoglycans in fixed cells also recently demonstrated but probing live still remains challenging. Raman microspectroscopy is potentially interesting to perform studies under physiological conditions. The aim the present work was identify GAGs and conditioned media. Biochemical analyses performed five cell types:...

Sea urchins have been used as experimental organisms for developmental biology over a century. Yet, is the case many other marine invertebrates, understanding development of juveniles and adults has lagged far behind that their embryos larvae. The reasons this are, in large part, due to difficulty experimentally manipulating juvenile development. Here we develop validate technique injecting compounds into rudiments purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We first document...