Sea urchin tube feet are photosensory organs that express a rhabdomeric-like opsin and PAX6.

ABSTRACT: All echinoderms have unique hydraulic structures called tube feet, known for their roles in light sensitivity, respiration, chemoreception and locomotion. In the green sea urchin, the most distal portion of these tube feet contain five ossicles arranged as a light collector with its concave surface facing towards the ambient light. These ossicles are perforated and lined with pigment cells that express a PAX6 protein that is universally involved in the development of eyes and sensory organs in other bilaterians. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sequencing and real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) also demonstrate the presence and differential expression of a rhabdomeric-like opsin within these tube feet. Morphologically, nerves that could serve to transmit information to the test innervat

SUBMITTER: Lesser MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3177635 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature