Speaker: Bo Dong, Ocean University of China, China
Host: Sun Nyunt Wai, Department of Molecular Biology, UCMR
Marine ascidians belong to the tunicates and sit at a key evolutionary node between invertebrates and vertebrates, making them as living fossils for studying evolutionary developmental biology. The tadpole larvae of ascidian show distinct vertebrate-like morphological features, however, they lose important vertebrate organs like the brain, CNS, and notochord after metamorphosis. In this talk, I will introduce our recent findings on identification of the protein precursor for thyroid hormone synthesis in ascidian. This protein is a first-identified TH precursor outside vertebrates, playing essential roles on larvae metamorphosis. Except this endogenous regulatory molecule, we also identified an external environmental factor that trigger marine ascidian larvae settlement and metamorphogesis. I will discuss the implications of our studies in the emerging field of marine Eco-Evo-Devo research by establishing a model system for understanding developmental mechanisms in the context of marine ecosystems and aquaculture. Of interest is the potential development of antifouling strategies by targeting specific chemosensation.
About IBSS:
Integrated Biomedical Science Seminars is a broad, open seminar series within life science.