A subterminal growth zone at arm tip likely underlies life-long indeterminate growth in brittle stars.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Echinoderms are a phylum of marine invertebrates with close phylogenetic relationships to chordates. Many members of the phylum Echinodermata are capable of extensive post-traumatic regeneration and life-long indeterminate growth. Different from regeneration, the life-long elongation of the main body axis in adult echinoderms has received little attention. The anatomical location and the nature of the dividing progenitor cells contributing to adults' growth is unknown.

Results

We show that the proliferating cells that drive the life-long growth of adult brittle star arms are mostly localized to the subterminal (second from the tip) arm segment. Each of the major anatomical structures contains dividing progenitors. These structures include: the radial nerve, water-

SUBMITTER: Mashanov V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9004015 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature