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Biomedical subjects

I Mita-Miyazawa

Publications and source records attributed to I Mita-Miyazawa.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of epidermis-specific antigens during embryogenesis of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi.

We have produced two monoclonal antibodies (Epi-1 and Epi-2) which specifically recognize epidermal cells and their derivative, the larval tunic, of developing embryos of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. The antigens, examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining, first appear at the early tailbud stage and are present until at least the swimming larval stage. There were distinct and separate puromycin and actinomycin D sensitivity periods for each antigen. Aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA synthesis, prevented the appearance of each antigen when embryos were exposed to the drug continuously from cleavage stages. These results suggest that the antigens are synthesized during embryogenesis by developing epidermal cells and that several rounds of DNA replication are required for the antigen expression. Early cleavage stage embryos, including fertilized but unsegmented eggs, in which cytokinesis had been blocked with cytochalasin B expressed the antigens, and blastomeres exhibiting the antigens were always of the epidermis lineage. In partial embryos produced by four separated blastomere pairs of the 8-cell embryos, the expression of antigens was seen only in those developed from the animal blastomere pairs, which are progenitors of epidermal cells. These observations indicate that differentiation of epidermal cells in ascidian embryos takes place in a typical "mosaic" fashion.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies against components of the myoplasm of eggs of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis partially block the development of muscle-specific acetylcholinesterase.

The myoplasm of Ciona intestinalis eggs, believed to contain cytoplasmic determinants responsible for muscle cell differentiation in ascidian embryos, emits weak pale-blue autonomous fluorescence. Utilizing this feature as a marker, the cytoplasm was isolated according to the method described by Jeffery (1985b). Electron microscopy showed that the isolated cytoplasm contained mitochondria, pigment granules, yolk particles and fine granular materials; these are ultrastructural components of the myoplasm of the intact egg. Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against the isolated cytoplasm. Twelve monoclonal antibodies, identified by indirect immunofluorescence, stained the myoplasmic region. When unfertilized eggs were centrifuged, stratifying their mitochondria and some other cytoplasmic components, components identified by several antibodies, for example IIG6B2, remained at the peripheral cytoplasm of the egg. Other antibodies recognized components stratified as the mitochondrial layer. Four representative antibodies were microinjected into fertilized eggs in order to examine their inhibitory effects on the muscle differentiation; the IIG6B2 antibody blocked the development of muscle-specific acetylcholinesterase in more than 80% of the embryos tested.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Cell- and tissue-specific monoclonal antibodies in eggs and embryos of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi.

To obtain specific immunological probes for studying molecular mechanisms involved in the early embryonic development of ascidians, we have produced monoclonal antibodies directed against a homogenate of larvae of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. Among these, we have screened monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize cells and/or tissues of the embryo. Characterization of six epidermis-specific monoclonal antibodies (including larval tunic-specific and larval fin-specific), three muscle-specific antibodies, two endoderm-specific antibodies, one notochord-specific antibody and two monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize trunk-lateral cells suggests that these monoclonal antibodies may be useful as markers for analysing molecular mechanisms involved in specification of these cells. Seven monoclonal antibodies characteristically stain intercellular materials of the developing embryo and may therefore be valid for studying cellular construction of the embryo. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies that recognize components of follicle cells, perivitelline space and sperm have also been established.

Animals↗

Muscle cell differentiation in ascidian embryos analysed with a tissue-specific monoclonal antibody.

Utilizing a muscle-specific monoclonal antibody (Mu-2) as a probe, we analysed developmental mechanisms involved in muscle cell differentiation in ascidian embryos. The antigen recognized by Mu-2 was a single polypeptide with a relative molecular mass of about 220 X 10(3). It first appeared at the early tailbud stage and continued to be expressed until the swimming larva stage. There were distinct and separate puromycin and actinomycin D sensitivity periods during the occurrence of the antigen, suggesting the new synthesis of the polypeptide by developing muscle cells. Embryos that had been permanently arrested with aphidicolin in the early cleavage stages up to the 32-cell stage did not express the antigen. DNA replications may be required for the antigen expression. Embryos that had been arrested with cytochalasin B in the 8-cell and later stages developed the antigen, and the number and position of the arrested blastomeres exhibiting the differentiation marker almost corresponded to those of the B4.1-line muscle lineage. Furthermore, in quarter embryos developed from each blastomere pair isolated from the 8-cell embryo, all the B4.1 as well as a part of b4.2 partial embryos expressed the antigen, while the a4.2 and A4.1 partial embryos did not show the antigen expression. These results may provide further support for the existence of cytoplasmic determinants for muscle cell differentiation in this mosaic egg.

Animals↗

Histospecific acetylcholinesterase development in the presumptive muscle cells isolated from 16-cell-stage ascidian embryos with respect to the number of DNA replications.

The presumptive muscle cells (B5.1 blastomeres) were isolated from 16-cell-stage embryos of the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis. The isolated cells were allowed to divide either twice or three times thereafter. Then further divisions of the cells were continuously inhibited by a simultaneous treatment with aphidicolin (a specific inhibitor of DNA synthesis) and cytochalasin B (an inhibitor of cytokinesis). When development of muscle-specific acetylcholinesterase in these division-arrested progeny cells of B5.1 blastomeres was examined histochemically, the B5.1 blastomeres which had been allowed two further divisions did not produce any detectable acetylcholinesterase activity. Whereas those which had been allowed three further divisions showed the tissue-specific enzyme activity. These results provide further evidence for the presence of a quantal DNA replication cycle for the tissue-specific enzyme development, which is qualitatively different from the other DNA replication cycles.

Acetylcholinesterase↗