Search results for "sea urchins"
showing 10 items of 135 documents
Rapid changes in heat-shock cognate 70 levels, heat-shock cognate phosphorylation state, heat-shock transcription factor, and metal transcription fac…
2010
The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the effects of several metals on the embryos of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a key species within the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem. Embryos were continuously exposed from fertilization to the following metals: 0.6 mg/l copper, 3 mg/l lead, and 6 mg/l nickel. The embryos were then monitored for metal responses at the gastrula stage, which occurred 24 h after exposure. A biochemical multi-experimental approach was taken and involved the investigation of the levels of HSC70 expression and the involvement of heat shock factor (HSF) and/or metal transcription factor (MTF) in the response. Immunoblotting assays and electrophoretic mo…
Functional characterization of the sea urchin sns chromatin insulator in erythroid cells.
2005
Abstract Chromatin insulators are regulatory elements that determine domains of genetic functions. We have previously described the characterization of a 265 bp insulator element, termed sns, localized at the 3′ end of the early histone H2A gene of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. This sequence contains three cis-acting elements (Box A, Box B, and Box C + T) all needed for the enhancer-blocking activity in both sea urchin and human cells. The goal of this study was to further characterize the sea urchin sns insulator in the erythroid environment. We employed colony assays in human (K562) and mouse (MEL) erythroid cell lines. We tested the capability of sns to interfere with the communi…
Sea urchin deciliation induces thermoresistance and activates the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
2003
In this study, we demonstrate by a variety of approaches (ie, morphological analysis, Western blots, immunolocalization, and the use of specific antibodies) that hyperosmotic deciliation stress of sea urchin embryos induces a thermotolerant response. Deciliation is also able to activate a phosphorylation signaling cascade the effector of which might be the p38 stress-activated protein kinase because we found that the administration of the p38 inhibitor SB203580 to sea urchin deciliated gastrula embryos makes the hyperosmotic deciliation stress lethal.
Achievement of thermotolerance through hsps phosphorylation in sea urchin embryos.
1995
TPA treatment of sea urchin embryos is able to induce thermotolerance. Evidence is provided that TPA treatment induces phosphorylation of a constitutive stress protein of 38 KDa.
Territorial localization of heat shock mRNA production in sea urchin gastrulae.
1985
In situ hybridization experiments with a labeled DNA probe indicate that the ability to respond to heat shock with the production of the mRNA for the 70 kd heat shock protein is segregated into the ectodermal cells already at the gastrula stage or earlier during the embryonic development of Paracentrotus lividus.
The Sea Urchin sns Insulator Blocks CMV Enhancer following Integration in Human Cells
2001
Insulators are a new class of genetic elements that attenuate enhancer function directionally. Previously, we characterized in sea urchin a 265-bp-long insulator, termed sns. To test insulator activity following stable integration in human cells, we placed sns between the CMV enhancer and a tk promoter up-stream of a GFP transgene of plasmid or retroviral vectors. In contrast to controls, cells transfected or transduced with insulated constructs displayed a barely detectable fluorescence. Southern blot and PCR ruled out vector rearrangement following integration into host DNA; RNase protection confirmed the enhancer blocking activity. Finally, we demonstrate that two cis-acting sequences, p…
Functional characterization of the enhancer blocking element of the sea urchin early histone gene cluster reveals insulator properties and three esse…
2000
Insulator elements can be functionally identified by their ability to shield promoters from regulators in a position-dependent manner or their ability to protect adjacent transgenes from position effects. We have previously reported the identification of a 265 bp sns DNA fragment at the 3' end of the sea urchin H2A early histone gene that blocked expression of a reporter gene in transgenic embryos when placed between the enhancer and the promoter. Here we show that sns interferes with enhancer-promoter interaction in a directional manner. When sns is placed between the H2A modulator and the inducible tet operator, the modulator is barred from interaction with the basal promoter. However, th…
Apoptosis in sea urchin embryos.
1997
Abstract It is demonstrated by DNA electrophoresis analysis, morphological observations and TdT in situ reaction, that Paracentrotus embryos if treated with TPA plus heat undergo an apoptotic reaction. Indication is also obtained that non treated embryos undergo spontaneous apoptosis at the early pluteus stage, expecially in the districts of arms and intestine. The possible meaning of this latter observation is discussed.
Cytochrome oxidase activity in the mitochondria of unfertilized and fertilized sea urchin eggs
1959
Abstract The cytochrome oxidase activity of isolated mitochondria of unfertilized and fertilized eggs of Paracentrotus lividus has been studied. It has been found that whereas in the mitochondria of unfertilized eggs saturation is reached at a cytochrome c concentration of 3.28 × 10−5 M, in those of fertilized eggs this occurs at a concentration of 5.74 × 10−5 M. It is shown that upon fertilization an increase of about 30 per cent of the activity of cytochrome oxidase takes place and no further changes appear to occur until blastula stage.