Meeting Abstract

P1.92  Saturday, Jan. 4 15:30  Developmental Transcriptome of Heliociaris erythrogramma – from bilateral larva to radial juvenile WYGODA, J.A.; KOOP, D.*; YANG, J.; WRAY, G.A.; BYRNE, M.; Duke University ; The University of Sydney; The University of Sydney; Duke University ; The University of Sydney mbyrne@anatomy.usyd.edu.au

Echinoderms possess bilateral larvae that give rise to a unique pentaradial adult organization. However, the genetic and cellular mechanisms underpinning the development of this body plan remains unclear. A key question is whether this pentamery involves axial patterning programs that are highly conserved in other organisms or is a novel feature, possibly evolved through co-option of gene function. In this study we use the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma with rapid development to the juvenile stage (5 days) as a model to identify genes specifically involved in juvenile formation and assess whether gene networks that pattern the early larva are redeployed in adult development. To address these questions, we used Illumina RNA-seq to measure the transcription profiles of 6 distinct stages of H. erythrogramma, from gastrulation through metamorphosis. These findings are expanded by assessing the expression patterns of key genes during the formation of the juvenile H. erythrogramma.