Developmental system drift in motor ganglion patterning between distantly related tunicates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The larval nervous system of the solitary tunicate Ciona is a simple model for the study of chordate neurodevelopment. The development and connectivity of the Ciona motor ganglion have been studied in fine detail, but how this important structure develops in other tunicates is not well known.

Methods and results

By comparing gene expression patterns in the developing MG of the distantly related tunicate Molgula occidentalis, we found that its patterning is highly conserved compared to the Ciona MG. MG neuronal subtypes in Molgula were specified in the exact same positions as in Ciona, though the timing of subtype-specific gene expression onset was slightly shifted to begin earlier, relative to mitotic exit and differentiat

SUBMITTER: Lowe EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6057086 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature