Disease relevance of Ciona intestinalis

• Reverse transcription-PCR and subsequent cDNA cloning revealed that cionin mRNA is expressed in both the neuronal ganglion and the gut of the protochordate Ciona intestinalis [1].
• The toxicity of mercury, copper, cadmium and chromium on sperm viability, fertilisation, embryogenesis and larval attachment of Ciona intestinalis was examined [2].

High impact information on Ciona intestinalis

• Here, using the early neural marker Otx as an entry point, we dissected the neural induction pathway in the simple embryos of Ciona intestinalis [3].
• Cionin, isolated from Ciona intestinalis, a representative of the protochordates that occupy a key position at the transition to vertebrates, so far represents the oldest genuine member of the CCK/gastrin family, dating the emergence of these peptides back to at least 500 million years ago [4].
• Comparison of the genes encoding these proteins to that of a sister protochordate, Ciona intestinalis, has indicated this rapid and dramatic change is most likely the result of frameshift mutations in the tail of the sperm-specific histone H1 [5].
• The TRF3 gene is present and expressed in vertebrates, from fish through humans, but absent from the genomes of the urochordate Ciona intestinalis and the lower eukaryotes D. melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans [6].
• Mammalian and chicken I forms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the gonads of a protochordate, Ciona intestinalis [7].

Chemical compound and disease context of Ciona intestinalis

• Localization of somatostatin-, substance P- and calcitonin-like immunoreactivity in the neural ganglion of Ciona intestinalis L. (Ascidiaceae) [8].
• Methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the nervous ganglion and the ovary of a protochordate, Ciona intestinalis [9].
• In this paper, we examined the morphology of the GnRH neuronal system of ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, by immunocytochemistry and found many GnRH-immunoreactive neuronal cells and fibers in a specific surface area of the cerebral ganglion, along the inner wall of the dorsal blood sinus, as well as on the anterior surface of the ovary [10].
• Toxicity of Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), and Mercury (Hg) on the early developmental stages of Ciona intestinalis was investigated [11].
• Toxicity assessment of the antifouling compound zinc pyrithione using early developmental stages of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis [12].

Biological context of Ciona intestinalis

• Tail regression in Ciona intestinalis (Prochordate) involves a Caspase-dependent apoptosis event associated with ERK activation [13].
• A zinc finger transcription factor, ZicL, is a direct activator of Brachyury in the notochord specification of Ciona intestinalis [14].
• To explore the molecular basis underlying the occurrence and modifications of the pharyngeal epithelium during evolution, we isolated cDNA clones for Pax1- and Pax9-related genes of urochordates (HrPax1/9 of Halocynthia roretzi and CiPax1/9 of Ciona intestinalis) and a hemichordate (PfPax1/9 of Ptychodera flava) from gill cDNA libraries [15].
• Regulatory elements controlling Ci-msxb tissue-specific expression during Ciona intestinalis embryonic development [16].
• In the ascidian Ciona intestinalis (and C. savignyi), sperm-activating and -attracting factor (SAAF) is released from the egg at fertilization and stimulates both Ca(2+) influx and a transient increase in cAMP level of the sperm, leading to the activation of sperm motility (M. Yoshida et al., 1994, Dev. Growth Differ. 36, 589-595) [17].

Anatomical context of Ciona intestinalis

• The hsp70 protein is involved in the acquisition of gamete self-sterility in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis [18].
• Two muscle differentiation programs, acetylcholinesterase and tropomyosin-containing filaments and fibrils, occur together in the same cleavage-arrested zygotes (1-celled) of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis [19].
• Molecular characterization of radial spoke subcomplex containing radial spoke protein 3 and heat shock protein 40 in sperm flagella of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis [20].
• Ci-Tbx6b and Ci-Tbx6c are key mediators of the maternal effect gene Ci-macho1 in muscle cell differentiation in Ciona intestinalis embryos [21].
• Here we report the isolation of complete lamin cDNA clones from three urochordate (tunicate) libraries - adult Ciona intestinalis, the tailbud stage of Styela clava and the gastrula stage of Molgula oculata [22].

Associations of Ciona intestinalis with chemical compounds

• Relative quantities of translationally active acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acetylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) mRNA present at various developmental stages were compared in embryos of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis [23].
• Ciona intestinalis nuclear receptor 1: a member of steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family [24].
• A MyoD family gene was identified in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis and designated CiMDF (Ciona intestinalis Muscle Determination Factor) [25].
• Identification of a novel leucine-rich repeat protein as a component of flagellar radial spoke in the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis [26].
• Identification of cardiac mechanisms of retinoic acid (RA) signaling, description of homologous genetic circuits in Ciona intestinalis and consolidation of views on the secondary heart field have fundamental, but still unrecognized implications for vertebrate heart evolution [27].

Gene context of Ciona intestinalis

• In non-vertebrates, six FGF genes have been identified in Ciona intestinalis, three in Drosophila melanogaster, and two (let-756 and egl-17) in Caenorhabditis elegans [28].
• Here we used the ascidian model species Ciona intestinalis to investigate pitx gene organization and cis-regulatory logic during early stages of oral development [29].
• We describe the cloning and the expression pattern of insulin promoter factor 1 in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis (Ci-IPF1) [30].
• Ci-GATAa, a GATA-class gene from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis: isolation and developmental expression [31].
• We further identified six PRMT members (PRMT1, 3-7) in an invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis [32].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Ciona intestinalis

• Oligonucleotide-based microarray analysis of retinoic acid target genes in the protochordate, Ciona intestinalis [33].
• Molecular cloning and characterization of a thioredoxin/nucleoside diphosphate kinase related dynein intermediate chain from the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis [34].
• To address these questions, I have employed the polymerase chain reaction to amplify, clone and sequence msh-related homeobox genes from two divergent vertebrate species (mouse and zebrafish), one ascidian (Ciona intestinalis), and D. melanogaster [35].
• The cellular and subcellular distribution of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the endostyle of three species of ascidians, Ciona intestinalis, Corella parallelogramma, Ascidia mentula, was studied by light- (immunoperoxidase) and electron-microscopic (immunogold) immunocytochemistry [36].
• Distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by in situ hybridization in the tunicate Ciona intestinalis [37].

References