Analysis of cytoskeletal and motility proteins in the sea urchin genome assembly

The sea urchin embryo is a classical model system for studying the role of the cytoskeleton in such events as fertilization, mitosis, cleavage, cell migration and gastrulation. We have conducted an analysis of gene models derived from the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus genome assembly and have gathered strong evidence for the existence of multiple gene families encoding cytoskeletal proteins and their regulators in sea urchin. While many cytoskeletal genes have been cloned from sea urchin with sequences already existing in public databases, genome analysis reveals a significantly higher degree of diversity within certain gene families. Furthermore, genes are described corresponding to homologs of cytoskeletal proteins not previously documented in sea urchins. To illustrate the varying degree of sequence diversity that exists within cytoskeletal gene families, we conducted an analysis of genes encoding actins, specific actin-binding proteins, myosins, tubulins, kinesins, dyneins, specific microtubule-associated proteins, and intermediate filaments. We conducted ontological analysis of select genes to better understand the relatedness of urchin cytoskeletal genes to those of other deuterostomes. We analyzed developmental expression (EST) data to confirm the existence of select gene models and to understand their differential expression during various stages of early development.     

Freezing tolerance of sea urchin embryo pigment cells

Various stresses, including exposure to cold or heat, can result in a sharp increase in pigmentation of sea urchin embryos and larvae. The differentiation of pigment cells is accompanied by active expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of naphthoquinone pigments and appears to be a part of the defense system protecting sea urchins against harmful factors. To clarify numerous issues occurring at various time points after the cold injury, we studied the effect of shikimic acid, a precursor of naphthoquinone pigments, on cell viability and expression of some pigment genes such as the pks and sult before and after freezing the cultures of sea urchin embryo cells. The maximum level of the pks gene expression after a freezing–thawing cycle was found when sea urchin cells were frozen in the presence of trehalose alone. Despite naphthoquinone pigments have been reported to possess antioxidant and cryoprotectant properties, our data suggest that shikimic acid does not have any additional cryoprotective effect on freezing tolerance of sea urchin embryo pigment cells.