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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
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The Power of Simplicity: Sea Urchin Embryos as in Vivo Developmental Models for Studying Complex Cell-to-cell Signaling Network Interactions
Published on: February 16, 2017
A database of mRNA expression patterns for the sea urchin embryo
Zheng Wei1, Robert C Angerer, Lynne M Angerer
1National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Developmental Biology
|September 30, 2006
Summary
This study characterizes temporal gene expression in the sea urchin genome, revealing dynamic RNA profiles across development. The database aids research into gene function during embryogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The sea urchin genome contains 35,282 gene predictions.
- Understanding gene expression patterns is crucial for deciphering developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a database of temporal expression profiles for sea urchin gene predictions.
- To analyze RNA abundance across five key developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- High-density oligonucleotide microarrays were used to measure relative RNA abundance.
- Polyadenylated (polyA+) RNA populations from five developmental stages were hybridized.
- Microarray data was validated against known gene expression patterns.
Main Results:
- 5% of gene predictions encode maternal RNAs, and 24% are embryo-specific.
- Over 80% of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) show a greater than threefold change in concentration during development.
- The microarray assay can detect mRNAs present at only a few hundred copies per embryo.
Conclusions:
- The generated database is a valuable resource for functional genomics in sea urchin development.
- The temporal expression profiles provide insights into gene regulation during embryogenesis.
- This work supports experimental design for testing gene functions in sea urchin development.
