Developmental Genomics of Ascidians

The simplicity and lack of redundancy in their regulatory genes have made ascidians one of the most useful species in studying developmental genomics. In Developmental Genomics of Ascidians, Dr. Noriyuki Satoh explains the developmental genomics of ascidians, stresses the simplicity of Ciona developmental system, and emphasizes single-cell level analyses. This book actively accentuates the advantages of using ascidians as model organisms in an up-and-coming field of developmental genomics.

PREFACE ix

CHAPTER 1 A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO ASCIDIANS 1

CHAPTER 2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF TADPOLE LARVAE AND SESSILE JUVENILES 9

CHAPTER 3 GENOMICS, TRANSCRIPTOMICS, AND PROTEOMICS 19

CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH TOOLS 31

CHAPTER 5 THE FUNCTION AND REGULATION OF MATERNAL TRANSCRIPTS 41

CHAPTER 6 LARVAL TAIL MUSCLE 53

CHAPTER 7 ENDODERM 63

CHAPTER 8 EPIDERMIS 69

CHAPTER 9 NOTOCHORD 77

CHAPTER 10 THE LARVAL AND ADULT NERVOUS SYSTEMS 89

CHAPTER 11 MESENCHYME 107

CHAPTER 12 MAKING BLUEPRINT OF CHORDATE BODY: DYNAMIC ACTIVITIES OF REGULATORY GENES 113

CHAPTER 13 DEVELOPMENT OF THE JUVENILE HEART 137

CHAPTER 14 GERM-CELL LINE, GAMETES, FERTILIZATION, AND METAMORPHOSIS 145

CHAPTER 15 INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BLOOD CELLS 159

CHAPTER 16 COLONIAL ASCIDIANS: ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION AND COLONY SPECIFICITY 167

CHAPTER 17 EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENTAL GENOMICS 175

INDEX 193

"In his preface, the author describes Developmental Genomics of Ascidians as his “last and largest contribution to ascidian developmental biology” (p. xi). This book is indeed a major accomplishment and a great resource for the community" (The Quarterly Review of Biology 2016)

Dr. Noriyuki Satoh has conducted research on ascidians at the Kyoto University Department of Zoology for more than 35 years. In April 2008, he launched the Marine Genomics Unit at OIST and extended his studies from ascidians to other marine animals, such as the corals that abound in the marine environment around Okinawa.
On February 2, 2011, he was awarded the title of professor emeritus by Hirosaki University in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The university recognized Dr. Satoh as one of Japan's leading biologists, who received the Zoological Society of Japan Prize in 1991, the Inoue Prize for Science in 1992, Toray Science and Technology Prize and the Japanese Society of Evolutionary Studies Prize in 1994, and the Medal with Purple Ribbon awarded by the Japanese government in 2006. In 2005, Dr. Satoh became the first Japanese scientist to receive the Alexander Kowalevsky medal, which is awarded to scientists for achievements in comparative and evolutionary embryology. In 2010, he also became the first Japanese scientist to receive the Edwin Grant Conklin Medal by the American Society for Developmental Biology (SDB). The SDB gives the award yearly to recognize a developmental biologist who has made and is continuing to make extraordinary research contributions to the field, and who is also an excellent mentor in training the next generation of outstanding scientists.

By awarding the title, Hirosaki University also recognized Dr. Satoh's other various distinguished contributions, including the establishment of the Asunaro Prize in the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science in 2008. Dr. Satoh founded the prize to enhance the university's research level in life science, and to nurture young scientists by recognizing students who have produced outstanding research results.

A comprehensive discussion of the developmental genomics of the model organism, ascidians

Ascidians are quickly becoming one of the most suitable experimental systems in which to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of embryonic cell specification and differentiation. The simplicity and lack of redundancy in their regulatory genes have made ascidians one of the most useful species in studying developmental genomics.

In Developmental Genomics of Ascidians, Dr. Noriyuki Satoh explains the developmental genomics of ascidians and the advantages of using them as model organisms; stresses the simplicity of the Ciona developmental system; and emphasizes single-cell level analyses.

Following a brief introduction to ascidians, the book provides in-depth chapter coverage of:

• The development of tadpole larvae and sessile juveniles
• Genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics
• Research tools
• The function and regulation of maternal transcripts
• Larval tail muscle
• Endoderm
• Epidermis
• Notochord
• The nervous system
• Mesenchyme
• Making a blueprint of the chordate body: dynamic activities of regulatory genes
• Development of the juvenile heart
• Germ cell lines and stem cells
• Self/non-self recognition systems and the ascidian innate immunity system
• Evolutionary embryology of ascidians

Developmental Genomics of Ascidians is an ideal book for researchers and students in developmental biology, cell biology, molecular biology, genome sciences, and more.