The jellyfish and its polyp: a comparative study of gene expression monitored by the protein patterns, using...

The life cycle of Podocoryne carnea (Coelenterata, Anthomedusae) shows several distinct stages which differ considerably in terms of their ecology, morphology, cellular composition, and ultrastructure. Previously these stages had even been described as separate species. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and a new method of double-label autoradiography, we show here for the first time for metagenic hydrozoans that only minor differences in gene expression exist between the various life cycle stages. Our results demonstrate the high resolution power of these techniques and show that the different life stages of P. carnea remain rather similar on the protein level. Most of the prominent spots of the two-dimensional gel protein patterns are common to all stages studied. These data show that the hydrozoan life cycle and development are regulated by only minor distinctions in gene expression which possibly explains the great morphogenetic repertoire of these animals described in many studies.