A5041132810- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Congenital heart defects research
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
University of Vienna
2018-2025
Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology
2023
Chinese Academy of Sciences
2023
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
2016-2023
University of California, Berkeley
2023
KU Leuven
2023
Heidelberg University
2023
University of Exeter
2023
Biogem
2009-2016
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
2009
This paper is the result of an international initiative and a first attempt to develop guidelines for care welfare cephalopods (i.e. nautilus, cuttlefish, squid octopus) following inclusion this Class ∼700 known living invertebrate species in Directive 2010/63/EU. It aims provide information investigators, animal committees, facility managers staff which will assist improving both given cephalopods, manner experimental procedures are carried out. Topics covered include: implications...
Communication in bilaterian nervous systems is mediated by electrical and secreted signals; however, the evolutionary origin relation of neurons to other secretory cell types has not been elucidated. Here, we use developmental single-cell RNA sequencing cnidarian Nematostella vectensis, representing an early lineage with a simple system. Validated transgenics, demonstrate that neurons, stinging cells, gland cells arise from common multipotent progenitor population. We identify conserved...
Abstract Background The recent combination of genomics and single cell transcriptomics has allowed to assess a variety non-conventional model organisms in much more depth. Single transcriptomes can uncover hidden cellular complexity lineage relationships within organisms. developmental atlases the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis , representative basally branching Cnidaria, provided new insights into development all types (Steger et al Cell Rep 40(12):111370, 2022; Sebé-Pedrós al....
Abstract Animals are typically composed of hundreds different cell types, yet mechanisms underlying the emergence new types remain unclear. Here we address origin and diversification muscle cells in non-bilaterian, diploblastic sea anemone Nematostella vectensis . We discern two fast slow-contracting populations, which differ by extensive sets paralogous structural protein genes. find that regulatory gene set slow cnidarian muscles is remarkably similar to bilaterian cardiac muscle, while...
In animals, stem cell populations of varying potency facilitate regeneration and tissue homeostasis. Notably, germline cells in both vertebrates invertebrates express highly conserved RNA binding proteins, such as nanos , vasa piwi . regenerative these genes are also expressed somatic cells, which led to the proposal that they had an ancestral role all cells. cnidarians, multi- pluripotent interstitial have only been identified hydrozoans. Therefore, it is currently unclear if cnidarian...
<title>Abstract</title> A recent study suggested that morphologically diploblastic sea anemones (Cnidaria) have three segregated germ layer identities corresponding to the bilaterian layers. Here, we investigated, how these are specified during early development of anemone <italic>Nematostella vectensis</italic>. Our gene expression analysis shows mesodermal territory is at animal pole 6 hours postfertilization, followed by specification definitive endoderm between mesoderm and ectoderm. We...
The evolutionary expansion of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules has been crucial for the establishment cell adhesion and transition from unicellular to multicellular life. Members pre-bilaterian phylum cnidaria offer an exceptionally rich perspective into metazoan core adhesome its original function in developmental morphogenetic processes. Here, we present ensemble ECM proteins associated factors starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis based on silico prediction quantitative proteomic...
The evolutionary expansion of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules has been crucial for the establishment cell adhesion and transition from unicellular to multicellular life. Members pre-bilaterian phylum cnidaria offer an exceptionally rich perspective into metazoan core adhesome its original function in developmental morphogenetic processes. Here, we present ensemble ECM proteins associated factors starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis based on silico prediction quantitative proteomic...
We report the characterization of ortholog Xenopus XlHbox8 ParaHox gene from sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, SpLox. It is expressed during embryogenesis, first appearing at late gastrulation in posterior-most region endodermal tube,becoming progressively restricted to constriction between mid- and hindgut. The physiological effects absence activity this have been analyzed through knockdown experiments using gene-specific morpholino antisense oligonucleotides. show that blocking...
Cephalopods provide an unprecedented opportunity for comparative studies of the developmental genetics organ systems that are convergent with analogous vertebrate structures. The Sox-family transcription factors is important class DNA-binding proteins known to be involved in many aspects differentiation, but have been largely unstudied lophotrochozoan systems. Using a degenerate primer strategy we isolated coding sequence three members Sox family from cephalopod mollusk, European cuttlefish...
Ciliated trochophore-type larvae are widespread among protostome animals with spiral cleavage. The respective phyla often united into the superclade Spiralia or Lophotrochozoa that includes, for example, mollusks, annelids, and platyhelminths. Mollusks (bivalves, gastropods, cephalopods, polyplacophorans, their kin) in particular known morphological innovations lineage-specific plasticity of homologous characters (e.g., radula, shell, foot, neuromuscular systems), raising questions...
Abstract Connective tissues are responsible for much of the variation in morphology that we see today. Cartilage is a type connective tissue often considered to be restricted vertebrates, however, cartilaginous also found within invertebrates. Unfortunately, most definitions and classification schemes cartilages suffer from strong vertebrate bias, severely hampering efforts those who have attempted include invertebrate as cartilage. To encompass all types cartilage, current systems need...
Pattern formation originates during embryogenesis by a series of symmetry-breaking steps throughout an expanding cell lineage. In
Summary Cnidaria are typically considered diploblastic (i.e. consisting of two germ layers) in contrast to their triploblastic sister clade, the Bilateria. However, a recent study suggested that sea anemones and other cnidarians have three segregated layer identities, corresponding bilaterian layers 1 . Here, we investigated, how identities specified during early development anemone Nematostella vectensis First, mesodermal territory is at animal pole 6 hours postfertilization, followed by...
Cephalopod mollusks possess a number of anatomical traits that often parallel vertebrates in morphological complexity, including centralized nervous system with sophisticated cognitive functionality. Very little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying patterning cephalopod embryo to arrive at this structure. Homeodomain (HD) genes are transcription factors regulate downstream through DNA binding, and as such integral parts gene regulatory networks controlling specification body...
Significance Comparing gene regulatory programs throughout developmental time and across species allows us to reveal their constraints flexibilities. Here we study the organism Acrobeloides nanus , a clade IV nematode, by sequencing its genome, identifying transcriptome, studying patterns of embryonic conservation divergence through comparison with Caenorhabditis elegans . The these two show many differences early in development, but significantly converge at middevelopmental transition....
Neuropeptides are ancient signaling molecules in animals but only few peptide receptors known outside bilaterians. Cnidarians possess a large number of G protein-coupled (GPCRs) – the most common bilaterian neuropeptides these remain orphan with no ligands. We searched for sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and created library 64 peptides derived from 33 precursors. In large-scale pharmacological screen 161 N. GPCRs, we identified 31 specifically activated by 1 to 3 14 peptides. Mapping GPCR...