Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Imaging Cleared Embryonic and Postnatal Hearts at Single-cell Resolution
07:30

Imaging Cleared Embryonic and Postnatal Hearts at Single-cell Resolution

Published on: October 7, 2016

8.6K

Hox3 Is Required for Post-Metamorphic Heart Development in Adult Ciona

Ryota Saito1, Tatsuki Hyodo1, Nene Kamakura1

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.

Development, Growth & Differentiation
|November 14, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Hox3 is crucial for heart tube formation in Ciona robusta, regulating growth zone cells. Its expression in terminal heart regions suggests conserved cardiac patterning between ascidians and vertebrates.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Comparative Genomics
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Heart development post-metamorphosis in Ciona robusta is not well understood.
  • The sub-terminal regions of the Ciona heart contain pacemaker and undifferentiated growth zone cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify transcription factors in Ciona heart sub-terminal regions.
  • Investigate the spatial expression and function of Hox3 in Ciona heart development.

Main Methods:

  • RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify transcription factors.
  • In situ hybridization for spatial expression analysis.
  • TALEN-mediated gene disruption to assess Hox3 function.

Main Results:

  • Hox3 showed the strongest predominant expression in both sub-terminal regions.
  • Hox3 was spatially expressed in undifferentiated growth zone cells of the heart tube.
  • Disruption of Hox3 led to irregular heart tube formation (swollen or shortened).

Conclusions:

  • Hox3 plays a critical role in Ciona heart tube formation by regulating growth zone cell activity.
  • Conserved Hox3 expression in terminal heart regions suggests partial conservation of cardiac patterning and pacemaker localization between ascidians and vertebrates.

Keywords:
Hox3RNA‐SeqTALENascidianheart development

More Related Videos

Embryo Microinjection and Electroporation in the Chordate Ciona intestinalis09:38

Embryo Microinjection and Electroporation in the Chordate Ciona intestinalis

Published on: October 16, 2016

16.6K
En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos08:57

En Face Endocardial Cushion Preparation for Planar Morphogenesis Analysis in Mouse Embryos

Published on: July 27, 2022

2.0K

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
2.0K
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway02:33

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
9.8K
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
380