Project description:The scyphozoan jellyfish Cyanea capillata are common blooming species in China.The venomous characteristics of jellyfish Cyanea capillata is largely attributed to their complex and elaborate venom delivery system: the stinging cells, or nematocytes. These specialized cells synthesize and secrete unique intracellular organelles called nematocysts. Nematocysts with heterogeneous sizes and morphologies may contain different toxic components that exert diverse pharmacological and physiological activities such as hemolysis, cytolysis and proteolysis for defense and prey capture. We modified the previous method of nematocyst preparation using density centrifugation to purify undischarged nematocysts from jellyfish Cyanea capillata tentacles. Ultimately, mastigophore-type nematocysts were successfully purified.Then we used purified nematocysts for proteomic study to identify sting-related toxins in Cyanea capillata nematocysts.
Project description:Evolution of the capacity to form secondary outgrowths from the principal embryonic axes was a crucial innovation that potentiated the diversification of animal body plans. Nevertheless, precisely how such outgrowths develop in early-branching metazoan species remains poorly understood. To identify genes potentially involved in tentacle initiation, outgrowth, and maintenance, we performed transcriptional profiling at three different stages of Nematostella development: late planula larvae with tentacle buds, animals with growing tentacles, and mature animals with four-tentacle polyps. At each of these three stages, the animal was bisected such that the oral tentacle portion (head) could be compared to the body column.
Project description:Evolution of the capacity to form secondary outgrowths from the principal embryonic axes was a crucial innovation that potentiated the diversification of animal body plans. Nevertheless, precisely how such outgrowths develop in early-branching metazoan species remains poorly understood. To identify genes potentially involved in tentacle initiation, outgrowth, and maintenance, we performed transcriptional profiling at three different stages of Nematostella development: late planula larvae with tentacle buds, animals with growing tentacles, and mature animals with four-tentacle polyps. At each of these three stages, the animal was bisected such that the oral tentacle portion (head) could be compared to the body column. Tentacle buds, growing tentacles, and mature tentacles, were compared to body columns from each matching stage in duplicate, for a total of 6 samples.
Project description:The objective was to analyse the transcriptomic response of radial nerve, nerve ring and tentacle to spawning pheromone with the view of obtaining insight into the ensuing physiological response.
