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Beyer J, Song Y, Lillicrap A, Rodríguez-Satizábal S, Chatzigeorgiou M. Ciona spp. and ascidians as bioindicator organisms for evaluating effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals: A discussion paper. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 191:106170. [PMID: 37708617 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
In context of testing, screening and monitoring of endocrine-disrupting (ED) type of environmental pollutants, tunicates could possibly represent a particularly interesting group of bioindicator organisms. These primitive chordates are already important model organisms within developmental and genomics research due to their central position in evolution and close relationship to vertebrates. The solitary ascidians, such as the genus Ciona spp. (vase tunicates), could possibly be extra feasible as ED bioindicators. They have a free-swimming, tadpole-like larval stage that develops extremely quickly (<20 h under favorable conditions), has a short life cycle (typically 2-3 months), are relatively easy to maintain in laboratory culture, have fully sequenced genomes, and transgenic embryos with 3D course data of the embryo ontogeny are available. In this article, we discuss possible roles of Ciona spp. (and other solitary ascidians) as ecotoxicological bioindicator organisms in general but perhaps especially for effect studies of contaminants with presumed endocrine disrupting modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonny Beyer
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway.
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway
| | - Adam Lillicrap
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway
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2
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Ueki T, Koike K, Fukuba I, Yamaguchi N. Structural and Mass Spectrometric Imaging Analyses of Adhered Tunic and Adhesive Projections of Solitary Ascidians. Zoolog Sci 2018; 35:535-547. [DOI: 10.2108/zs180051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Ueki
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Kanae Koike
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, 1-4-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Ikuko Fukuba
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, 1-4-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Nobuo Yamaguchi
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, 1-4-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
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Nguyen VT, Ko SC, Heo SJ, Kang DH, Oh C, Kim KN, Jeon YJ, Kim YM, Park WS, Choi IW, Park NG, Jung WK. Ciona intestinalis calcitonin-like peptide promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization through MAPK pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells. Process Biochem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2018.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Shimai K, Kusakabe TG. The Use of cis-Regulatory DNAs as Molecular Tools. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-7545-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Toxicity of marine pollutants on the ascidian oocyte physiology: an electrophysiological approach. ZYGOTE 2017; 26:14-23. [DOI: 10.1017/s0967199417000612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SummaryIn marine animals with external fertilization, gametes are released into seawater where fertilization and embryo development occur. Consequently, pollutants introduced into the marine environment by human activities may affect gametes and embryos. These xenobiotics can alter cell physiology with consequent reduction of fertilization success. Here the adverse effects on the reproductive processes of the marine invertebrate Ciona intestinalis (ascidian) of different xenobiotics: lead, zinc, an organic tin compound and a phenylurea herbicide were evaluated. By using the electrophysiological technique of whole-cell voltage clamping, the effects of these compounds on the mature oocyte plasma membrane electrical properties and the electrical events of fertilization were tested by calculating the concentration that induced 50% normal larval formation (EC50). The results demonstrated that sodium currents in mature oocytes were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner by all tested xenobiotics, with the lowest EC50 value for lead. In contrast, fertilization current frequencies were differently affected by zinc and organic tin compound. Toxicity tests on gametes demonstrated that sperm fertilizing capability and fertilization oocyte competence were not altered by xenobiotics, whereas fertilization was inhibited in zinc solution and underwent a reduction in organic tin compound solution (EC50 value of 1.7 µM). Furthermore, fertilized oocytes resulted in a low percentage of normal larvae with an EC50 value of 0.90 µM. This study shows that reproductive processes of ascidians are highly sensitive to xenobiotics suggesting that they may be considered a reliable biomarker and that ascidians are suitable model organisms to assess marine environmental quality.
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Pennati R, Ficetola GF, Brunetti R, Caicci F, Gasparini F, Griggio F, Sato A, Stach T, Kaul-Strehlow S, Gissi C, Manni L. Morphological Differences between Larvae of the Ciona intestinalis Species Complex: Hints for a Valid Taxonomic Definition of Distinct Species. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122879. [PMID: 25955391 PMCID: PMC4425531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cosmopolitan ascidian Ciona intestinalis is the most common model species of Tunicata, the sister-group of Vertebrata, and widely used in developmental biology, genomics and evolutionary studies. Recently, molecular studies suggested the presence of cryptic species hidden within the C. intestinalis species, namely C. intestinalis type A and type B. So far, no substantial morphological differences have been identified between individuals belonging to the two types. Here we present morphometric, immunohistochemical, and histological analyses, as well as 3-D reconstructions, of late larvae obtained by cross-fertilization experiments of molecularly determined type A and type B adults, sampled in different seasons and in four different localities. Our data point to quantitative and qualitative differences in the trunk shape of larvae belonging to the two types. In particular, type B larvae exhibit a longer pre-oral lobe, longer and relatively narrower total body length, and a shorter ocellus-tail distance than type A larvae. All these differences were found to be statistically significant in a Discriminant Analysis. Depending on the number of analyzed parameters, the obtained discriminant function was able to correctly classify > 93% of the larvae, with the remaining misclassified larvae attributable to the existence of intra-type seasonal variability. No larval differences were observed at the level of histology and immunohistochemical localization of peripheral sensory neurons. We conclude that type A and type B are two distinct species that can be distinguished on the basis of larval morphology and molecular data. Since the identified larval differences appear to be valid diagnostic characters, we suggest to raise both types to the rank of species and to assign them distinct names.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Pennati
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio e di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Federico Caicci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabio Gasparini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Griggio
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Atsuko Sato
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Stach
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut fur Lebenswissenschaften, Vergleichende Zoologie, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Carmela Gissi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail: (CG); (LM)
| | - Lucia Manni
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail: (CG); (LM)
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Dishaw LJ, Cannon JP, Litman GW, Parker W. Immune-directed support of rich microbial communities in the gut has ancient roots. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 47:36-51. [PMID: 24984114 PMCID: PMC4146740 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The animal gut serves as a primary location for the complex host-microbe interplay that is essential for homeostasis and may also reflect the types of ancient selective pressures that spawned the emergence of immunity in metazoans. In this review, we present a phylogenetic survey of gut host-microbe interactions and suggest that host defense systems arose not only to protect tissue directly from pathogenic attack but also to actively support growth of specific communities of mutualists. This functional dichotomy resulted in the evolution of immune systems much more tuned for harmonious existence with microbes than previously thought, existing as dynamic but primarily cooperative entities in the present day. We further present the protochordate Ciona intestinalis as a promising model for studying gut host-bacterial dialogue. The taxonomic position, gut physiology and experimental tractability of Ciona offer unique advantages in dissecting host-microbe interplay and can complement studies in other model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry J Dishaw
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, USF/ACH Children's Research Institute, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
| | - John P Cannon
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, USF/ACH Children's Research Institute, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Gary W Litman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, USF/ACH Children's Research Institute, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics, All Children's Hospital-Johns Hopkins Medicine, 501 6th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - William Parker
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Gallo A, Tosti E. Adverse effect of antifouling compounds on the reproductive mechanisms of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Mar Drugs 2013; 11:3554-68. [PMID: 24065165 PMCID: PMC3806468 DOI: 10.3390/md11093554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Revised: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization and embryo development that occur in sea water are sensitive to xenobiotics from anthropogenic sources. In this work, we evaluated the influence of two antifouling biocides, tributyltin (TBT) and diuron, on the reproductive mechanisms of the marine invertebrate Ciona intestinalis. By using electrophysiological techniques, we examined the impact of these compounds on the electrical properties of the mature oocytes and of events occurring at fertilization. With different toxicity assays, we studied the effect of the two biocides on the gametes by evaluating fertilization rate and embryo development. Results show that sodium (Na⁺) currents were significantly reduced by either of the two biocides, whereas conductance was significantly increased. The fertilization current frequency and amplitude, fertilization rate and larval development were affected only by TBT. This study suggests that: (i) the two biocides affect either the electrical properties of the oocyte plasma membrane and the reproductive success representing a risk factor for the survival of the species exposed to environmental pollution; (ii) the ascidian Ciona intestinalis may represent a good model organism to test toxicity of marine pollutants. Possible mechanisms of action of the two biocides are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabetta Tosti
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples 80121, Italy; E-Mail:
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Enhancer activity sensitive to the orientation of the gene it regulates in the chordate genome. Dev Biol 2012; 375:79-91. [PMID: 23274690 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Revised: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Enhancers are flexible in terms of their location and orientation relative to the genes they regulate. However, little is known about whether the flexibility can be applied in every combination of enhancers and genes. Enhancer detection with transposable elements is a powerful method to identify enhancers in the genome and to create marker lines expressing fluorescent proteins in a tissue-specific manner. In the chordate Ciona intestinalis, this method has been established with a Tc1/mariner superfamily transposon Minos. Previously, we created the enhancer detection line E[MiTSAdTPOG]15 (E15) that specifically expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the central nervous system (CNS) after metamorphosis. In this study, we identified the causal insertion site of the transgenic line. There are two genes flanking the causal insertion of the E15 line, and the genomic region around the insertion site contains the enhancers responsible for the expression in the endostyle and gut in addition to the CNS. We found that the endostyle and gut enhancers show sensitivity to the orientation of the GFP gene for their enhancer activity. Namely, the enhancers cannot enhance the expression of GFP which is inserted at the same orientation as the E15 line, while the enhancers can enhance GFP expression inserted at the opposite orientation. The CNS enhancer can enhance GFP expression in both orientations. The DNA element adjacent to the endostyle enhancer is responsible for the orientation sensitivity of the enhancer. The different sensitivity of the enhancers to the orientation of the transgene is a cause of CNS-specific GFP expression in the E15 line.
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Sasakura Y, Kanda M, Ikeda T, Horie T, Kawai N, Ogura Y, Yoshida R, Hozumi A, Satoh N, Fujiwara S. Retinoic acid-driven Hox1 is required in the epidermis for forming the otic/atrial placodes during ascidian metamorphosis. Development 2012; 139:2156-60. [PMID: 22573621 DOI: 10.1242/dev.080234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA)-mediated expression of the homeobox gene Hox1 is a hallmark of the chordate central nervous system (CNS). It has been suggested that the RA-Hox1 network also functions in the epidermal ectoderm of chordates. Here, we show that in the urochordate ascidian Ciona intestinalis, RA-Hox1 in the epidermal ectoderm is necessary for formation of the atrial siphon placode (ASP), a structure homologous to the vertebrate otic placode. Loss of Hox1 function resulted in loss of the ASP, which could be rescued by expressing Hox1 in the epidermis. As previous studies showed that RA directly upregulates Hox1 in the epidermis of Ciona larvae, we also examined the role of RA in ASP formation. We showed that abolishment of RA resulted in loss of the ASP, which could be rescued by forced expression of Hox1 in the epidermis. Our results suggest that RA-Hox1 in the epidermal ectoderm played a key role in the acquisition of the otic placode during chordate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan.
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Dishaw LJ, Flores-Torres JA, Mueller MG, Karrer CR, Skapura DP, Melillo D, Zucchetti I, De Santis R, Pinto MR, Litman GW. A Basal chordate model for studies of gut microbial immune interactions. Front Immunol 2012; 3:96. [PMID: 22563328 PMCID: PMC3342567 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex symbiotic interactions at the surface of host epithelia govern most encounters between host and microbe. The epithelium of the gut is a physiologically ancient structure that is comprised of a single layer of cells and is thought to possess fully developed immunological capabilities. Ciona intestinalis (sea squirt), which is a descendant of the last common ancestor of all vertebrates, is a potentially valuable model for studying barrier defenses and gut microbial immune interactions. A variety of innate immunological phenomena have been well characterized in Ciona, of which many are active in the gut tissues. Interactions with gut microbiota likely involve surface epithelium, secreted immune molecules including variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins, and hemocytes from a densely populated laminar tissue space. The microbial composition of representative gut luminal contents has been characterized by molecular screening and a potentially relevant, reproducible, dysbiosis can be induced via starvation. The dialog between host and microbe in the gut can be investigated in Ciona against the background of a competent innate immune system and in the absence of the integral elements and processes that are characteristic of vertebrate adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry J Dishaw
- Department of Pediatrics, USF/ACH Children's Research Institute, University of South Florida College of Medicine St. Petersburg, FL, USA
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YOKOYAMA KK, MURATA T, PAN J, NAKADE K, KISHIKAWA S, UGAI H, KIMURA M, KUJIME Y, HIROSE M, MASUZAKI S, YAMASAKI T, KURIHARA C, OKUBO M, NAKANO Y, KUSA Y, YOSHIKAWA A, INABE K, UENO K, OBATA Y. Genetic Materials at the Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center. Exp Anim 2010; 59:115-24. [DOI: 10.1538/expanim.59.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kazunari K. YOKOYAMA
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Medicine, Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University
- Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
| | | | - Jianzhi PAN
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
- Institute of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Zhejiang Academy of Agriculture Sciences
| | - Koji NAKADE
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
| | | | - Hideyo UGAI
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Makoto KIMURA
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
- Imamoto Cellular Dynamics Laboratory, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Masato OKUBO
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
| | - Yuri NAKANO
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
| | - Yuka KUSA
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
| | | | - Kumiko INABE
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
| | - Kazuko UENO
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
| | - Yuichi OBATA
- Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center
- RIKEN BioResource Center
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