Article
Cell Biology
Vanessa Barone, Deirdre C. Lyons
Summary: Echinoderm embryos, particularly sea urchin embryos, have been widely used as model systems in cell and developmental biology due to their optical clarity. Live imaging techniques, coupled with fluorescence microscopy, have played a pivotal role in uncovering mechanisms of embryonic development. This study argues for the adaptation of live imaging techniques to more echinoderm species in order to explore the evolutionary aspects of morphogenesis and understand the differences in dynamic cellular behaviors between species.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Toby G. R. Andrews, Wolfram Ponisch, Ewa K. Paluch, Benjamin J. Steventon, Elia Benito-Gutierrez
Summary: This study used a quantitative approach to investigate the dynamic relationship between cell shape and growth in the process of notochord morphogenesis in amphioxus, revealing significant variations in developmental timing and trajectory topology in different regions.
Review
Cell Biology
Meng Zhu, Clifford J. Tabin
Summary: Heterochrony refers to changes in the timing of developmental processes relative to an ancestral state. Limb development is a suitable system to study the contribution of heterochrony to morphological evolution. We demonstrate how timing mechanisms have been utilized to establish the correct limb pattern and present cases where natural variations in timing have resulted in changes in limb morphology.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Anna Czarkwiani, David Dylus, Luisana Carballo, Paola Oliveri
Summary: The study highlights the crucial role of the FGF signaling pathway in skeletogenesis and regeneration in brittle stars. Disruption of the FGF signaling pathway inhibits skeleton formation without affecting other key developmental processes. Differential transcriptome analysis reveals downregulation of differentiation genes rather than transcription factors, and the discovery of brittle star-specific differentiation genes through comparative gene analysis.
Review
Cell Biology
Katharine Goodwin, Celeste M. Nelson
Summary: Mechanical forces play a crucial role in development, with both intrinsic and extrinsic signals affecting morphogenesis. Recent studies have highlighted the diversity and importance of mechanical influences during development. There are promising avenues for future research in this rapidly expanding field.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emanuel M. Avrahami, Lothar Houben, Lior Aram, Assaf Gal
Summary: This study reveals that complex crystalline morphologies can be achieved by manipulating the growth rate. Using electron tomography, the researchers examined the development of coccolith crystals in three dimensions and found that the crystals express only one set of symmetry-related crystallographic facets, with the positioning of the crystals along specific edges contributing to morphological chirality.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno C. Genevcius, Denis C. Calandriello, Tatiana T. Torres
Summary: Our study on the evolution of male genital size and its underlying genetic architecture in insects fills the gap in our understanding of the association between genotypes and phenotypes during evolutionary time. We found that the evolution of genital size is mainly influenced by body size, weakly influenced by development rate and phylogenetic history. Interestingly, we also discovered significant correlations between mutation rates of certain genes and genital size, indicating the complex nature of this trait.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Isaac Salazar-Ciudad
Summary: This article argues that the concepts of developmental constraints and developmental biases do not accurately represent the role of development in evolution, with natural selection being seen as the main determining factor in morphological evolution.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan Calcutt, Richard Vincent, Derrick Dean, Treena Livingston Arinzeh, Ram Dixit
Summary: This study introduces plant biomimetic scaffolds that mimic the physical interactions between cells and their microenvironment. The scaffolds, made of PVDF-TrFE, with nanosized aligned fibers, were found to enhance cell adhesion. Enzymatic treatments revealed the significant role of pectin in cell adhesion to the scaffolds.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Pedro M. Santos, Bernardo Ruivo Quintella, David Jacinto, Ana Gomes, Carolina Saldanha, Silvia Lourenco, Patricia Mega Lopes, Maria Joao Correia, David Mateus, Teresa Cruz, Ana Pombo, Jose Lino Costa
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of three tagging methods on wild sea urchins. The results showed that the final wet weight was significantly lower in the PIT-tagged group compared to the untagged group, while the survival rate did not differ significantly among the groups. In terms of tag retention, the calcein group had the highest retention rate, followed by the PIT-tag group, and the CWT group had the lowest retention rate.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Maissa Gharbi, Francesca Glaviano, Serena Federico, Bruno Pinto, Anna Di Cosmo, Maria Costantini, Valerio Zupo
Summary: The aim of this study is to develop artificial feeds for the post-larvae of Paracentrotus lividus in order to improve production skills. Various natural and prepared components were tested, and a feed composed of spirulina and Ulva rigida was found to be the most effective. Statistical analyses showed that this diet had a positive impact on the growth, behavior, and survival rates of post-larvae. In addition, the efficacy of prepared feeds in the sea urchin aquaculture system was demonstrated, as they facilitated manipulation and control of the culture procedures for the satisfactory growth of P. lividus post-larvae.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Yuanlan Wu, Xuelin Zhao, Yangxi Xiang, Ming Guo, Chenghua Li
Summary: In this study, the echinoderm MAPK family was identified and analyzed, revealing insights into its evolutionary history and immune function.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas D. Serra, Meera Sundaram
Summary: Transcytosis is a specialized form of transport where extracellular cargo is endocytosed, transported through the cytoplasm in vesicles, and secreted at a different plasma membrane surface. It allows membrane-impermeable macromolecules to pass through cells and become accessible to adjacent cells and tissues. Moreover, transcytosis also plays a role in redistributing plasma membrane proteins and lipids to different regions of the cell surface.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jacob F. Warner, James W. Lord, Samantha A. Schreiter, Katherine T. Nesbit, Amro Hamdoun, Deirdre C. Lyons
Summary: The painted urchin Lytechinus pictus has become a tractable model system for establishing transgenic sea urchin lines due to its amenability to long term laboratory culture. The first published genome of L. pictus exhibits high contiguity and will serve as a key resource for comparative functional genomics.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Vincent Mirouse
Summary: The Dystrophin-Associated Protein Complex (DAPC) is a well-defined and evolutionarily conserved complex in animals, which interacts with the F-actin cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Its function is not limited to muscle integrity maintenance, but also involves adhesive properties and mechanotransduction. The review also highlights its developmental roles in tissue morphogenesis and basement membrane assembly.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Byrne, Shawna A. Foo, Pauline M. Ross, Hollie M. Putnam
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Reproductive Biology
M. S. R. Khan, C. M. Whittington, M. B. Thompson, M. Byrne
INVERTEBRATE REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
(2020)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Hamish Campbell, Janine Ledet, Alistair Poore, Januar Harianto, Maria Byrne
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kennedy Wolfe, Dione J. Deaker, Alexia Graba-Landry, Curtis Champion, Sophie Dove, Raymond Lee, Maria Byrne
Summary: Tropical calcium carbonate sediments are predicted to be more sensitive to ocean acidification, potentially impacting the abundance of infaunal organisms. Research suggests that the deposit-feeding sea cucumber, S. herrmanni, may influence surface-sediment meiofauna and microphytes under current and future ocean pH conditions, affecting the functioning of coral reef ecosystems.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Chiara Martino, Maria Byrne, Maria Carmela Roccheri, Roberto Chiarelli
Summary: Gradual ocean warming and exposure to gadolinium have negative effects on the development and biomineralization of sea urchin embryos and larvae. Elevated temperatures can mitigate the negative effects of gadolinium on development, but extreme warming combined with gadolinium treatment may have synergistic negative effects. Various stressors, including heat stress and chemical exposure, can induce different cellular stress response strategies in marine organisms, as shown by the expression of heat shock proteins and apoptotic processes. High levels of heat shock protein expression may have antagonistic effects on apoptosis, highlighting the complexity of interactions between multiple stressors in marine species in coastal environments.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Maria Byrne, Paulina Selvakumaraswamy
Summary: The study investigates the developmental process of gastrulation in seastar embryos, revealing the contribution of cells at different developmental stages to ectoderm and endoderm, as well as the reflection of animal and vegetal fates. Modifications in gastrulation associated with evolution suggest potential alterations in this foundational morphogenetic process.
EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ciemon Frank Caballes, Maria Byrne, Vanessa Messmer, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: The study revealed significant variation in the timing of maturation and gamete release between two summer spawning seasons of the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, possibly depending on local environmental conditions. The optimal temperature for gametogenesis and spawning was found to be when seawater temperature exceeded 28 degrees Celsius. During rapid temperature increases, the starfish may exhibit greater synchronicity in their reproductive capacity, which can help seed outbreaks.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Januar Harianto, Joshua Aldridge, Sergio A. Torres Gabarda, Richard J. Grainger, Maria Byrne
Summary: Ocean warming and acidification have significant impacts on marine organism physiology. The study found that long-term exposure to different temperature and pH conditions affected the survival and metabolic rate of sea urchin adults. Parental acclimation to warming was shown to influence juvenile physiology. Gradual environmental change during acclimation can influence outcomes in marine species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Shawna A. Foo, Maria Byrne
Summary: The oceans have absorbed around 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, leading to ocean acidification. It is projected that continued CO2 uptake will lower ocean pH by 0.3 units by as early as 2081, affecting the saturation of calcium carbonate minerals necessary for marine organisms. Natural marine CO2 vent systems serve as proxies for ocean acidification, offering insights into the future ocean environment.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria Byrne, Demian Koop, Dario Strbenac, Paula Cisternas, Jean Yee Hwa Yang, Phillip L. Davidson, Gregory Wray
Summary: This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the pentameral body in adult echinoderms using the developmental transcriptome of Parvulastra exigua. Analysis revealed 39 genes associated with the Nodal and BMP2/4 network, showing similar temporal expression patterns and co-expression relationships, suggesting their regulatory roles in patterning morphogenesis of the juvenile seastar. Changes in Nodal and BMP2/4 signalling genes across metamorphosis were also identified, providing a foundation for detailed analyses in the evolution of the unusual pentameral echinoderm body plan.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mailie L. Gall, Sebastian P. Holmes, Hamish Campbell, Maria Byrne
Summary: The study revealed that the thermal tolerance of larval sea urchins can be affected by marine heatwaves, with temperature impacting the timing and success rate of metamorphosis in Heliocidaris erythrogramma. The tolerance range of adult sea urchins is related to that of larvae, indicating negative carryover effects during metamorphic transition.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tyler J. Carrier, Brittany A. Leigh, Dione J. Deaker, Hannah R. Devens, Gregory A. Wray, Seth R. Bordenstein, Maria Byrne, Adam M. Reitzel
Summary: Animal gastrointestinal tracts harbor a microbiome that is crucial to host function, but some species have evolved a reduced or completely lost digestive system. Research in sea urchins reveals that the lack of a functional gut corresponds to reduced microbial community diversity and abundance, along with a diet-specific microbiome. Additionally, it is found that sea urchins transmit a Rickettsiales that may influence host nutrition and reproduction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nina Bednarsek, Piero Calosi, Richard A. Feely, Richard Ambrose, Maria Byrne, Kit Yu Karen Chan, Sam Dupont, Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamino, John Spicer, Faycal Kessouri, Miranda Roethler, Martha Sutula, Stephen B. Weisberg
Summary: This study identified critical thresholds for the vulnerability of marine invertebrates to ocean acidification, focused on echinoderms in the California Current Ecosystem. The thresholds ranged from early warning to lethal impacts, providing a foundation for consistent interpretation of ocean acidification monitoring data and simulations to support climate change vulnerability assessments and ocean management strategies.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mitchell C. Gibbs, Laura M. Parker, Elliot Scanes, Maria Byrne, Wayne A. O'Connor, Pauline M. Ross
Summary: This study investigated the impact of ocean acidification on larval energetics of oysters and found that elevated p CO2 reduced survival, size, and lipid levels across all lipid classes. Larvae of Saccostrea glomerata were more impacted than Crassostrea gigas, especially when food was limited, highlighting concerns for their aquacultural status and ecological function.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jay J. Minuti, Maria Byrne, Deevesh A. Hemraj, Bayden D. Russell
Summary: The study revealed that heatwave conditions led to increased metabolic rates in sea urchins, but this increase was not accompanied by a corresponding rise in food consumption or fecal production. While food consumption did increase during the post-heatwave recovery period, likely to replenish an energy deficit, mortality still increased during this time due to latent effects.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
