Gene regulatory networks for the development and evolution of the chordate heart

Article Abstract:

Gene regulatory networks consisting of subcircuits of transcription factors and intercellular signaling molecules are important for understanding the complex mechanisms of animal development and evolution. The function of an Ets-containing transcription factor in the tunicate, Ciona intestinalis is examined and the heart field expansion, evoked by the subtle alteration of the heart genetic program, caused a morphological change, that is, to a heart with two compartments.

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FGF signaling delineates the cardiac progenitor field in the simple chordate, Ciona intestinalis

Article Abstract:

The role of Ets1/2 in the early specification of cardiac mesoderm is investigated, where the expression of Ets1/2 downstream from Mesp in the B7.5 lineage establishes the heart field. The expanded heart rudiment forms a functional two-compartment heart and this observation is discussed with regard to the evolution of the multichambered vertebrate heart.

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Surfing with the tunicates into the post-genome era

Article Abstract:

Tunicates provide a classical experimental system for studying cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying developmental fate determination and morphogenesis. Ciona genome is at the forefront of post-genome annotation due to extensive research conducted on it.

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