Search results for "echinoderm"

Diversity and phylogeography of Southern Ocean sea stars (Asteroidea)

2019

How is life distributed on the Southern Ocean sea floor? How can we explain species distribution patterns, their origin and the underpinning drivers? These questions are central to macroecological studies, especially in regions facing fast environmental changes. The main objective of this thesis was to describe and characterise distribution patterns of sea stars species (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) with regards to reproductive strategy (i.e. brooding versus broadcasting), a key life history trait for species dispersal. I tested whether contrasting dispersal abilities between direct developers (brooders) and species with pelagic larvae in their development (broadcasters) result in distinct di…

The role of cell interactions in the control of RNA synthesis.

1967

The hemolysin-producer coelomocytes in Holothuria polii

1988

Using sodium metrizoate discontinuous gradients, two hemolysin-producer amebocyte populations have been separated from total circulating Holothuria polii coelomocytes. The amebocytes of population 1 are responsible for the production of the calcium-dependent and temperature-labile hemolysin, whereas those of population 2 produce the calcium-independent and temperature-stable one. The intracytoplasmic hemolysins were evidenced also by immunofluorescence. Petaloid and filipodial amebocytes were the only positive cell types.

How Hox genes can shed light on the place of echinoderms among the deuterostomes.

2014

19 pages; International audience; BACKGROUND: The Hox gene cluster ranks among the greatest of biological discoveries of the past 30 years. Morphogenetic patterning genes are remarkable for the systems they regulate during major ontogenetic events, and for their expressions of molecular, temporal, and spatial colinearity. Recent descriptions of exceptions to these colinearities are suggesting deep phylogenetic signal that can be used to explore origins of entire deuterostome phyla. Among the most enigmatic of these deuterostomes in terms of unique body patterning are the echinoderms. However, there remains no overall synthesis of the correlation between this signal and the variations observ…

Echinoderm Antimicrobial Peptides

2016

Abstract Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely expressed in organisms and have been linked to innate and acquired immunity in vertebrates. These compounds are constitutively expressed from different cellular types to interact directly with infectious agents and/or modulate immunoreactions. In invertebrates, including echinoderms, which lack a vertebrate-type adaptive immune system, AMPs represent the major humoral defense system against infection, showing a diverse spectrum of action mechanisms, most of them related to plasma membrane disturbance and lethal alteration of microbial integrity. Here, we summarize the knowledge of AMPs in echinoderms as Strongylocins identified in the sea ur…

Marine Animal-Derived Compounds and Autophagy Modulation in Breast Cancer Cells

2021

It is known that in breast cancer biology, autophagy mainly plays a cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic role in vitro, being conceivably responsible for cell resistance to drug exposure and a higher metastatic attitude in vivo. Thus, the development of novel autophagy-targeting agents represents a valuable strategy to improve the efficacy of anticancer interventions. It is widely acknowledged that the enormous biodiversity of marine organisms represents a highly promising reserve for the isolation of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites targeting one or several specific molecular pathways and displaying active pharmacological properties against a variety of diseases. The aim of this re…

A new neuraminic acid derivative and three types of glycopeptides isolated from the Cuvierian tubules of the sea cucumber Holothuria forskali

1973

The Cuvierian tubules of Holothuria forskali Della Chiaje, a sea cucumber found in the Adriatic Sea, were investigated with regard to their carbohydrate moieties. From a Pronase digest of these tubules three types of carbohydrate units were isolated and characterized. 1. A high-molecular-weight glycopeptide fraction was shown to contain sulphated polyfucose, galactosamine, a uronic acid and a previously unknown neuraminic acid derivative. The sulphate was shown by i.r. analysis to be present as an O-ester. The carbohydrate unit was linked O-glycosidically to threonine and serine residues in the polypeptide chain. The hitherto unknown neuraminic acid derivative (Hf-neuraminic acid) was resis…

Naturally occurring hemolysins in the coelomic fluid of Holothuria polii delle chiaie (Echinodermata).

1979

Abstract The coelomic fluid of Holothuria polii D.Ch contains hemolytic activity against erythrocytes of several vertebrate species. The hemolytic potency depends upon calcium ion concentration and varies according to erythrocyte source and cell number in the reaction mixture. Absorption experiments with formalinized rabbit erythrocytes suggest that hemolytic activity is not specific. Its heat lability, water insolubility at low pH values, and sensitivity to proteolytic enzymes suggest that hemolytic activity resides in protein molecules. The activity, maximal in alkaline media, appears to depend up time and temperature.

Inhibitory activity of sphingomyelin on hemolytic activity of coelomic fluid of Holothuria polii (echinodermata)

1987

Abstract The hemolytic activity of coelomic fluid from Holothuria polii is specifically inhibited by sphingomyelin. This phospholipid is the constituent of the membrane which probably interacts with the hemolysin thereby leading to the lysis.

Studies on Holothuriapolii (echinodermata) coelomocyte lysate II. Isolation of coelomocyte hemolysins

1988

The lytic activity of the Holothuria polii coelomocyte lysate resides in two electrophoretically distinct hemolysins identified as He1 and He2. He1 represents the calcium dependent, heat-labile component whereas He2 is calcium independent and heat-stable. The two hemolysins share serological identity. Both hemolysins appear as single protein molecules of 80KDa molecular weight by SDS-PAGE and transblotting analysis under non-reducing conditions. However under reducing conditions, they are doublets of 76 and 80KDa molecular weight. The hypothesis that the two hemolysins could be isoforms is discussed.