Search results for "echinoderm"

Cytotoxic capability and the associated proteomic profile of cell-free coelomic fluid extracts from the edible sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa on He…

2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer histotype and one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. The identification of compounds that might intervene to restrain neoplastic cell growth appears imperative due to its elevated overall mortality. The marine environment represents a reservoir rich in bioactive compounds in terms of primary and secondary metabolites produced by aquatic animals, mainly invertebrates. In the present study, we determined whether the water-soluble cell-free extract of the coelomic fluid (CFE) of the edible sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa could play an anti-HCC role in vitro by analyzing the viability and locomotory behavior, cell cycle distribu…

DIVERSIFICATION OF HIPPO SIGNALING COMPONENTS IN SELECTED METAZOAN SPECIES

La via di segnalazione intracellulare conosciuta come Hippo pathway svolge un ruolo chiave nei processi che regolano il controllo della dimensione degli organi, la proliferazione, l’apoptosi, il mantenimento delle caratteristiche di staminalità cellulare. Alterazioni nel pathway sono state descritte in molti tipi di tumori. Il nome deriva da una delle sue componenti principali, la proteina chinasi Hippo (Hpo), identificata per la prima volta in Drosophila melanogaster. Mutazioni nel gene Hpo inducevano la crescita abnorme di tessuti e organi. Componenti del pathway Hippo sono stati successivamente individuati anche nei mammiferi. Gli elementi fondamentali sono costituiti dalla proteine chin…

<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>Reinterpretation of the enigmatic Ordovician genus <em>Bolboporites </em>(Echinodermata)</…

2019

Bolboporites is an enigmatic Ordovician cone-shaped fossil, the precise nature and systematic affinities of which have been controversial over almost two centuries. For the first time, a wide range of techniques (CT-scan, SEM, cathodoluminescence, XPL, UV epifluorescence, EBSD, FT-IR and XRF spectrometry) were applied to well-preserved specimens of Bolboporites from Norway and Russia. Our main finding confirms its echinoderm affinities, as shown by its stereomic microstructure and by the first definitive evidence of its monocrystalline nature. Each cone consists in a single, microporous calcitic crystal with a narrow longitudinal internal canal. These results are combined with all previous …

Echinoderm Antimicrobial Peptides to Contrast Human Pathogens

2013

Increased attention has been focused in marine invertebrates as a source of bioactive molecules for biomedical applications. Many bioactive molecules are part of the innate immune system. Some more recently isolated compounds, mainly from sea urchin and sea cucumber are antimicrobial peptides (AMP) active against Gram positive, Gram negative and fungi. In this review we described the most recent studies on AMP isolated from echinoderms. The AMP are little peptides <10 kDa with cationic charge and amphipathic structure. Recently, it was demonstrated that in the coelomocyte lysates of Paracentrotus. lividus and Holothuria tubulosa AMP are present with activity against staphylococcal and Pseud…

Antimicrobial peptides from echinoderms as antibiofilm agents: a natural strategy to combat bacterial infections

2014

AbstractIncreased attention has been focused on marine invertebrates as a source of bioactive molecules for biomedical applications. Many bioactive molecules are part of the innate immune system. Some more recently isolated compounds, mainly from the sea urchin and the sea cucumber, are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. In this review we described the most recent studies on AMPs isolated from echinoderms. AMPs are small peptides (< 10 kDa) with cationic charge and amphipathic structure. Recently, it was demonstrated that in the coelomocyte lysates of Paracentrotus lividus and Holothuria tubulosa, AMPs possess activity against s…

Increased gene expression of a cytokine-related molecule and profilin after activation of Suberites domuncula cells with xenogeneic sponge molecule(s)

2000

Porifera (sponges) constitute the lowest metazoan phylum, Experiments examined whether sponges can recognize self/nonself molecules. Cells from the marine sponge Suberites domuncula were incubated with membranes from either S. domuncula or another marine sponge, Geodia cydonium, as well as with recombinant alpha-integrin from G. cydonium. The cells responded immediately with a rise of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca-i(2+)]) if they were treated with membranes from G. cydonium but not after treatment by those from S. domuncula. This change of [Ca-i(2+)] was also recorded with G. cydonium alpha-integrin. In parallel, the expression of two genes was strongly upregulated; one codes for a cytokine-relat…

First occurrence of the needle-spined urchin Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) (Echinodermata, Diadematidae) in the southern Mediterranean Sea

2022

The first occurrence of Diadema setosum in the southern Mediterranean waters is recorded from the shores of Libya and Egypt, through the input by citizens’ science. The expansion of this invasive sea urchin in the Mediterranean basin is briefly discussed.

The Genome of the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

2006

We report the sequence and analysis of the 814-megabase genome of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus , a model for developmental and systems biology. The sequencing strategy combined whole-genome shotgun and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequences. This use of BAC clones, aided by a pooling strategy, overcame difficulties associated with high heterozygosity of the genome. The genome encodes about 23,300 genes, including many previously thought to be vertebrate innovations or known only outside the deuterostomes. This echinoderm genome provides an evolutionary outgroup for the chordates and yields insights into the evolution of deuterostomes.

Metallothionein Gene Family in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus: Gene Structure, Differential Expression and Phylogenetic Analysis

2017

Metallothioneins (MT) are small and cysteine-rich proteins that bind metal ions such as zinc, copper, cadmium, and nickel. In order to shed some light on MT gene structure and evolution, we cloned seven Paracentrotus lividus MT genes, comparing them to Echinodermata and Chordata genes. Moreover, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of 32 MTs from different classes of echinoderms and 13 MTs from the most ancient chordates, highlighting the relationships between them. Since MTs have multiple roles in the cells, we performed RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization experiments to understand better MT functions in sea urchin embryos. Results showed that the expression of MTs is regulated throughout de…

Effects of cadmium exposure on sea urchin development assessed by SSH and RT-qPCR: metallothionein genes and their differential induction

2012

In order to study the defense strategies activated by Paracentrotus lividus embryos in response to sub-lethal doses of CdCl2, we compared the induced transcripts to that of control embryos by suppression subtractive hybridization technique. We isolated five metallothionein (MT) cDNAs and other genes related to detoxification, to signaling pathway components, to oxidative, reductive and conjugative biotransformation, to RNA maturation and protein synthesis. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that two of the five P. lividus MT (PlMT7 and PlMT8) genes appeared to be constitutively expressed and upregulated following cadmium treatment, whereas the other three genes (PlMT4, PlMT5, PlMT6) are specifically…