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Updated: Mar 6, 2026
High Throughput Microinjections of Sea Urchin Zygotes
Published on: January 21, 2014
Effects of mycostatin in sea urchin development
1Biology Department, San Fernando Valley State College, 91324, Northridge, California.
Abstract:
Sea urchin development is inhibited in the presence of mycostatin, a fungicidal antibiotic believed to alter cell membranes. Pretreatment of eggs inhibits fertilization inL. pictus, but not inS. purpuratus. The doses resulting in abnormal development inS. purpuratus increase as the treatment is started later in development. AH tissues are sensitive to mycostatin at high concentrations, but the endodermal and mesenchyme derivatives are most sensitive at lower concentrations. The results suggest the heterogeneity of cell membranes and also indicate that membranes change with time of development.
Insights
Mycostatin disrupts sea urchin development by affecting cell membranes, with sensitivity varying by species and developmental stage. This highlights differences in cell membrane composition and changes during development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Marine Biology
Background:
- Mycostatin is a fungicidal antibiotic known to affect cell membranes.
- Sea urchin development provides a model system for studying early embryonic processes.
- Understanding cell membrane properties is crucial for comprehending developmental regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of mycostatin on sea urchin development.
- To determine the sensitivity of different developmental stages and tissues to mycostatin.
- To explore the implications of mycostatin's effects on cell membrane heterogeneity and dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of sea urchin eggs and embryos to varying concentrations of mycostatin.
- Assessment of fertilization success following mycostatin pretreatment.
- Observation and analysis of developmental abnormalities in response to mycostatin treatment at different time points.
- Differential sensitivity analysis of various embryonic tissues (e.g., endoderm, mesenchyme) to mycostatin.
Main Results:
- Mycostatin inhibits fertilization in some sea urchin species (e.g., L. pictus) but not others (e.g., S. purpuratus).
- Developmental abnormalities in S. purpuratus embryos increase with later application of mycostatin.
- Endodermal and mesenchyme derivatives show higher sensitivity to mycostatin at lower concentrations compared to other tissues.
Conclusions:
- Sea urchin cell membranes exhibit heterogeneity in their response to mycostatin.
- Cell membrane properties change dynamically throughout sea urchin development.
- Mycostatin serves as a tool to probe the distinct characteristics and temporal changes of embryonic cell membranes.
