Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Globin genes are present in Ciona intestinalis.

Bettina Ebner1, Thorsten Burmester, Thomas Hankeln

  • 1Institute of Molecular Genetics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|July 2, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Ciona intestinalis, a basal tunicate, possesses at least four globin genes, challenging the notion of hemocyanin as its sole respiratory protein. These findings suggest globins play a role in sea squirt respiration, unlike previously assumed.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ancient conservation of androglobin expression reveals its evolutionary link to ciliary processes.

Molecular biology and evolution·2026
Same author

The MYB-related transcription factor MYPOP acts as a selective regulator of cancer cell growth.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Expression analysis of androglobin and its influence on the transcriptome in cancer.

Gene·2025
Same author

Incorporation of monophosphoryl lipid A and CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides into lipid nanoparticles activates toll-like receptor signaling pathways while maintaining antigen expression for mRNA-based vaccinations.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2025
Same author

Substantial Hierarchical Reductions of Genetic and Morphological Traits in the Evolution of Rotiferan Parasites.

Genome biology and evolution·2025
Same author

Author Correction: Adaptation of the Spalax galili transcriptome to hypoxia may underlie the complex phenotype featuring longevity and cancer resistance.

npj aging·2025

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The tunicate Ciona intestinalis occupies a basal position in the vertebrate phylogenetic tree.
  • Its respiratory proteins are crucial for understanding early vertebrate evolution.
  • Previous genomic data suggested the absence of globin genes, implying hemocyanin use for respiration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and function of respiratory proteins in Ciona intestinalis.
  • To resolve the discrepancy between genomic data and the tunicate's phylogenetic position.
  • To determine if Ciona intestinalis utilizes globins or hemocyanin for oxygen transport.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of the Ciona intestinalis genome.
  • Gene expression analysis to confirm the presence of globin transcripts.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Protein sequence analysis to infer functional roles.

    • Main Results:

    • At least four distinct globin gene/protein sequences were identified in Ciona intestinalis.
    • Gene expression analysis confirmed the presence of these globin transcripts.
    • Hemocyanin-like sequences in Ciona appear to have enzymatic rather than respiratory functions.

    Conclusions:

    • Ciona intestinalis possesses multiple globin genes, contrary to previous assumptions.
    • This finding aligns with the ancestral role of globins in vertebrate evolution.
    • The study suggests a reassessment of hemocyanin's function in tunicates.