Gene expression profiles of transcription factors and signaling molecules in the ascidian embryo: towards a comprehensive understanding of gene networks
Gene expression profiles of transcription factors and signaling molecules in the ascidian embryo: towards a comprehensive understanding of gene networks
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DOI：
10.1242/dev.01270
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发表时间：
2004-08-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Satou, Y
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Imai, KS;Hino, K;Satou, Y
要对动物的发育有真实的了解，显然需要全面而不是部分地鉴定在每个发育过程中起作用的基因。最近对基因组序列的解码将使我们能够进行这样的研究。海鞘，玻璃海鞘，基因组已被测序的动物之一，是一种与脊椎动物共享基本身体计划的脊索动物，尽管其基因组包含的旁系同源物比通常在脊椎动物中看到的要少。在本研究中，我们讨论了在玻璃海鞘胚胎发育基因网络的全基因组方法。我们重点介绍了转录因子基因和一些主要的信号转导基因。这些基因被全面列出，并通过原位杂交对其胚胎表达进行了研究（http：//ghost.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp/tfst.html）。结果表明，74%的转录因子基因在母体中表达，56%的基因在合子中表达。其中，34%的转录因子基因表达的母亲和合子。合子表达的转录因子基因的数量在胚胎发生过程中逐渐增加。作为一个例子，并利用这种基因表达谱的全面描述，我们确定了转录因子基因和信号转导基因，在早期原肠胚阶段表达，并在β-连环蛋白，FoxD和/或Fgf 9/16/20的下游工作。由于这三个基因是海鞘内中胚层特化所必需的，因此可以使用本方法全面推导出参与每个下游过程的转录因子基因和信号转导基因。
Achieving a real understanding of animal development obviously requires a comprehensive rather than partial identification of the genes working in each developmental process. Recent decoding of genome sequences will enable us to perform such studies. An ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, one of the animals whose genome has been sequenced, is a chordate sharing a basic body plan with vertebrates, although its genome contains less paralogs than are usually seen in vertebrates. In the present study, we discuss the genomewide approach to networks of developmental genes in Ciona embryos. We focus on transcription factor genes and some major groups of signal transduction genes. These genes are comprehensively listed and examined with regard to their embryonic expression by in situ hybridization (http://ghost.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp/tfst.html). The results revealed that 74% of the transcription factor genes are expressed maternally and that 56% of the genes are zygotically expressed during embryogenesis. Of these, 34% of the transcription factor genes are expressed both maternally and zygotically. The number of zygotically expressed transcription factor genes increases gradually during embryogenesis. As an example, and taking advantage of this comprehensive description of gene expression profiles, we identified transcription factor genes and signal transduction genes that are expressed at the early gastrula stage and that work downstream of beta-catenin, FoxD and/or Fgf9/16/20. Because these three genes are essential for ascidian endomesoderm specification, transcription factor genes and signal transduction genes involved in each of the downstream processes can be deduced comprehensively using the present approach.