Fibroblast growth factor signalling controls nervous system patterning and pigment cell formation in Ciona intestinalis

Claudia Racioppi, Ashwani K. Kamal, Florian Razy-Krajka, Gennaro Gambardella, Laura Zanetti, Diego di Bernardo, Remo Sanges, Lionel A. Christiaen () and Filomena Ristoratore ()
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Claudia Racioppi: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale
Ashwani K. Kamal: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale
Florian Razy-Krajka: Center for Developmental Genetics, New York University
Gennaro Gambardella: Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM)
Laura Zanetti: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale
Diego di Bernardo: Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM)
Remo Sanges: Animal Physiology and Evolution Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale
Lionel A. Christiaen: Center for Developmental Genetics, New York University
Filomena Ristoratore: Cellular and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract During the development of the central nervous system (CNS), combinations of transcription factors and signalling molecules orchestrate patterning, specification and differentiation of neural cell types. In vertebrates, three types of melanin-containing pigment cells, exert a variety of functional roles including visual perception. Here we analysed the mechanisms underlying pigment cell specification within the CNS of a simple chordate, the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Ciona tadpole larvae exhibit a basic chordate body plan characterized by a small number of neural cells. We employed lineage-specific transcription profiling to characterize the expression of genes downstream of fibroblast growth factor signalling, which govern pigment cell formation. We demonstrate that FGF signalling sequentially imposes a pigment cell identity at the expense of anterior neural fates. We identify FGF-dependent and pigment cell-specific factors, including the small GTPase, Rab32/38 and demonstrated its requirement for the pigmentation of larval sensory organs.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5830

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