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Analyses of Gene Function in Amphioxus Embryos by Microinjection of mRNAs and Morpholino Oligonucleotides

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Vertebrate Embryogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 770))

Abstract

The invertebrate chordate amphioxus (Branchiostoma), which is the most basal living chordate, has become an accepted model for the vertebrate ancestor in studies of development and evolution. Amphioxus resembles vertebrates in regard to morphology, developmental gene expression, and gene function. In addition, the amphioxus genome has representatives of most vertebrate gene families. Although it has not undergone the two rounds of whole genome duplications that occurred early in the vertebrate lineage, the amphioxus genome has retained considerable synteny with vertebrate genomes. Thus, studies of genes and development in amphioxus embryos can reveal the fundamental genetic basis of the vertebrate body plan, giving insights into the developmental mechanisms of such organs as the somites, pharynx, kidney, and the central nervous system. Moreover, amphioxus is very useful for understanding how these characters evolved. This chapter details methods for microinjection of amphioxus eggs with mRNAs or morpholino antisense oligonucleotides to analyze gene networks operating in early development.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, USA. NSF IOS 07-43485 and MCB 06-20019 to L. Z. H. and IOB 0416292 to L. Z. H. and N. D. Holland. Onai T. was supported by JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow for Research Abroad (Japan). We thank Professors Susan Bell and John Lawrence for generously providing laboratory space at the University of South Florida during the amphioxus breeding season.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Linda Z. Holland & Takayuki Onai

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  1. Linda Z. Holland
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  2. Takayuki Onai
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Correspondence to Linda Z. Holland .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Henry Mall 425-G, Madison, 53706-1574, Wisconsin, USA

    Francisco J. Pelegri

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Holland, L.Z., Onai, T. (2011). Analyses of Gene Function in Amphioxus Embryos by Microinjection of mRNAs and Morpholino Oligonucleotides. In: Pelegri, F. (eds) Vertebrate Embryogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 770. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-210-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-210-6_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-209-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-210-6

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