Biomaterial Database

Autonomous expression of tissue-specific genes in dissociated sea urchin embryos. 1989

L Stephens, and T Kitajima, and F Wilt

Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

The effects of disrupting cell interactions in early development were investigated by examining the accumulation of a primary mesenchyme specific transcript (SM50) and an aboral ectoderm-specific transcript (Spec 1) in cultures of sea urchin embryos that were dissociated at early stages and then cultured in CFSW. The expression of both SM50 and Spec 1 is temporally correct and remains restricted to the appropriate cell types, even if the embryo is dissociated as early as the 2-cell stage and maintained as a suspension of single cells. This result is consistent with the idea that the specificity of expression of these two genes, each characteristic of different lineages, is strongly regulated by information in the egg. Average SM50 expression is half that of intact embryos, but Spec 1 expression is very low, only 10-20% of intact controls, suggesting some differences in the response of the two genes to lack of close cell interactions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002450	Cell Communication	Any of several ways in which living cells of an organism communicate with one another, whether by direct contact between cells or by means of chemical signals carried by neurotransmitter substances, hormones, and cyclic AMP.	Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interaction,Cell Communications,Cell Interactions,Cell to Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interactions,Communication, Cell,Communications, Cell,Interaction, Cell,Interaction, Cell-to-Cell,Interactions, Cell,Interactions, Cell-to-Cell
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D005819	Genetic Markers	A phenotypically recognizable genetic trait which can be used to identify a genetic locus, a linkage group, or a recombination event.	Chromosome Markers,DNA Markers,Markers, DNA,Markers, Genetic,Genetic Marker,Marker, Genetic,Chromosome Marker,DNA Marker,Marker, Chromosome,Marker, DNA,Markers, Chromosome
D006822	Hybrid Cells	Any cell, other than a ZYGOTE, that contains elements (such as NUCLEI and CYTOPLASM) from two or more different cells, usually produced by artificial CELL FUSION.	Somatic Cell Hybrids,Cell Hybrid, Somatic,Cell Hybrids, Somatic,Cell, Hybrid,Cells, Hybrid,Hybrid Cell,Hybrid, Somatic Cell,Hybrids, Somatic Cell,Somatic Cell Hybrid
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012617	Sea Urchins	Somewhat flattened, globular echinoderms, having thin, brittle shells of calcareous plates. They are useful models for studying FERTILIZATION and EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT.	Echinoidea,Sand-Dollar,Clypeasteroida,Sand Dollars,Clypeasteroidas,Dollar, Sand,Dollars, Sand,Echinoideas,Sand Dollar,Sand-Dollars,Sea Urchin,Urchin, Sea,Urchins, Sea
D015152	Blotting, Northern	Detection of RNA that has been electrophoretically separated and immobilized by blotting on nitrocellulose or other type of paper or nylon membrane followed by hybridization with labeled NUCLEIC ACID PROBES.	Northern Blotting,Blot, Northern,Northern Blot,Blots, Northern,Blottings, Northern,Northern Blots,Northern Blottings
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions
D066298	In Vitro Techniques	Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism.	In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In