David Matus - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by David Matus

Research paper thumbnail of In Vivo Identification of Regulators of Cell Invasion Across Basement Membranes

Research paper thumbnail of An expression screen for RhoGEF genes involved in C. elegans gonadogenesis

Gene Expression Patterns, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Science Signaling Podcast: 11 May 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic Organization and Expression Demonstrate Spatial and Temporal Hox Gene Colinearity in the Lophotrochozoan Capitella sp. I

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic Organization and Expression Demonstrate Spatial and Temporal Hox Gene Colinearity in the Lophotrochozoan Capitella sp. I

Research paper thumbnail of The evolutionary origin of hedgehog proteins

Research paper thumbnail of Supplemental Data: Broad taxon and gene sampling indicate that chaetognaths are protostomes

Research paper thumbnail of Dorso/Ventral Genes Are Asymmetrically Expressed and Involved in Germ-Layer Demarcation during Cnidarian Gastrulation

Research paper thumbnail of Broad phylogenomic sampling improves resolution of the animal tree of life

Research paper thumbnail of From the Cover: Molecular evidence for deep evolutionary roots of bilaterality in animal development

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Anatomy and development of the nervous system of Nematostella vectensis , an anthozoan cnidarian

Developmental Neurobiology, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of vasa and nanos expression patterns in a sea anemone and the evolution of bilaterian germ cell specification mechanisms

Evolution & Development, 2005

Summary Most bilaterians specify primordial germ cells (PGCs) during early embryogenesis using ei... more Summary Most bilaterians specify primordial germ cells (PGCs) during early embryogenesis using either inherited cytoplasmic germ line determinants (preformation) or induction of germ cell fate through signaling pathways (epigenesis). However, data from nonbilaterian animals suggest that ancestral metazoans may have specified germ cells very differently from most extant bilaterians. Cnidarians and sponges have been reported to generate germ cells continuously throughout reproductive life, but previous studies on members of these basal phyla have not examined embryonic germ cell origin. To try to define the embryonic origin of PGCs in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, we examined the expression of members of the vasa and nanos gene families, which are critical genes in bilaterian germ cell specification and development. We found that vasa and nanos family genes are expressed not only in presumptive PGCs late in embryonic development, but also in multiple somatic cell types during early embryogenesis. These results suggest one way in which preformation in germ cell development might have evolved from the ancestral epigenetic mechanism that was probably used by a metazoan ancestor.

Research paper thumbnail of FGF signaling in gastrulation and neural development in Nematostella vectensis , an anthozoan cnidarian

Development Genes and Evolution, 2007

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal transduction pathway serves as one of the key regulator... more The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal transduction pathway serves as one of the key regulators of early metazoan development, displaying conserved roles in the specification of endodermal, mesodermal, and neural fates during vertebrate development. FGF signals also regulate gastrulation, in part, by triggering epithelial to mesenchymal transitions in embryos of both vertebrates and invertebrates. Thus, FGF signals coordinate gastrulation movements across many different phyla. To help understand the breadth of FGF signaling deployment across the animal kingdom, we have examined the presence and expression of genes encoding FGF pathway components in the anthozoan cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. We isolated three FGF ligands (NvFGF8A, NvFGF8B, and NvFGF1A), two FGF receptors (NvFGFRa and NvFGFRb), and two orthologs of vertebrate FGF responsive genes, Sprouty (NvSprouty), an inhibitor of FGF signaling, and Churchill (NvChurchill), a Zn finger transcription factor. We found these FGF ligands, receptors, and response gene expressed asymmetrically along the oral/aboral axis during gastrulation and in a developing chemosensory structure of planula stages known as the apical tuft. These results suggest a conserved role for FGF signaling molecules in coordinating both gastrulation and neural induction that predates the Cambrian explosion and the origins of the Bilateria.

Research paper thumbnail of Broad taxon and gene sampling indicate that chaetognaths are protostomes

Research paper thumbnail of The Hedgehog gene family of the cnidarian, Nematostella vectensis, and implications for understanding metazoan Hedgehog pathway evolution

Developmental Biology, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Pre-Bilaterian Origins of the Hox Cluster and the Hox Code: Evidence from the Sea Anemone, Nematostella vectensis

Research paper thumbnail of A WNT of things to come: Evolution of Wnt signaling and polarity in cnidarians

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of The ancestral role of COE genes may have been in chemoreception: evidence from the development of the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis (Phylum Cnidaria; Class Anthozoa

Development Genes and Evolution, 2004

An orthologue of the COE family of helix-loop-helix transcription factors was recovered from the ... more An orthologue of the COE family of helix-loop-helix transcription factors was recovered from the anthozoan Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria). NvCOE has high sequence similarity to vertebrate and invertebrate orthologues in all three major functional domains of the protein. In situ hybridization studies show early expression through the cleavage period but transcripts are down regulated at gastrulation while remaining expressed at high levels only in the apical tuft of cilia at the aboral end of the planula larva. It is likely that one of the ancestral roles of the COE family of genes may have been in the development of chemosensory neurons.

Research paper thumbnail of From the Cover: Molecular evidence for deep evolutionary roots of bilaterality in animal development

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 2006

Nearly all metazoans show signs of bilaterality, yet it is believed the bilaterians arose from ra... more Nearly all metazoans show signs of bilaterality, yet it is believed the bilaterians arose from radially symmetric forms hundreds of millions of years ago. Cnidarians (corals, sea anemones, and "jellyfish") diverged from other animals before the radiation of the Bilateria. They are diploblastic and are often characterized as being radially symmetrical around their longitudinal (oral-aboral) axis. We have studied the deployment of orthologs of a number of family members of developmental regulatory genes that are expressed asymmetrically during bilaterian embryogenesis from the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. The secreted TGF- genes Nv-dpp, Nv-BMP5-8, six TGF- antagonists (NvChordin, NvNoggin1, NvNoggin2, NvGremlin, NvFollistatin, and NvFollistatin-like), the homeodomain proteins NvGoosecoid (NvGsc) and NvGbx, and the secreted guidance factor, NvNetrin, were studied. NvDpp, NvChordin, NvNoggin1, NvGsc, and NvNetrin are expressed asymmetrically along the axis perpendicular to the oral-aboral axis, the directive axis. Furthermore, NvGbx, and NvChordin are expressed in restricted domains on the left and right sides of the body, suggesting that the directive axis is homologous with the bilaterian dorsal-ventral axis. The asymmetric expression of NvNoggin1 and NvGsc appear to be maintained by the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. The asymmetric expression of NvNoggin1, NvNetrin, and Hox orthologs NvAnthox7, NvAnthox8, NvAnthox1a, and NvAnthox6, in conjunction with the observation that NvNoggin1 is able to induce a secondary axis in Xenopus embryos argues that N. vectensis could possess antecedents of the organization of the bilaterian central nervous system.

Research paper thumbnail of The Hox gene complement of a pelagic chaetognath, Flaccisagitta enflata

Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of In Vivo Identification of Regulators of Cell Invasion Across Basement Membranes

Research paper thumbnail of An expression screen for RhoGEF genes involved in C. elegans gonadogenesis

Gene Expression Patterns, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Science Signaling Podcast: 11 May 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic Organization and Expression Demonstrate Spatial and Temporal Hox Gene Colinearity in the Lophotrochozoan Capitella sp. I

Research paper thumbnail of Genomic Organization and Expression Demonstrate Spatial and Temporal Hox Gene Colinearity in the Lophotrochozoan Capitella sp. I

Research paper thumbnail of The evolutionary origin of hedgehog proteins

Research paper thumbnail of Supplemental Data: Broad taxon and gene sampling indicate that chaetognaths are protostomes

Research paper thumbnail of Dorso/Ventral Genes Are Asymmetrically Expressed and Involved in Germ-Layer Demarcation during Cnidarian Gastrulation

Research paper thumbnail of Broad phylogenomic sampling improves resolution of the animal tree of life

Research paper thumbnail of From the Cover: Molecular evidence for deep evolutionary roots of bilaterality in animal development

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Anatomy and development of the nervous system of Nematostella vectensis , an anthozoan cnidarian

Developmental Neurobiology, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of vasa and nanos expression patterns in a sea anemone and the evolution of bilaterian germ cell specification mechanisms

Evolution & Development, 2005

Summary Most bilaterians specify primordial germ cells (PGCs) during early embryogenesis using ei... more Summary Most bilaterians specify primordial germ cells (PGCs) during early embryogenesis using either inherited cytoplasmic germ line determinants (preformation) or induction of germ cell fate through signaling pathways (epigenesis). However, data from nonbilaterian animals suggest that ancestral metazoans may have specified germ cells very differently from most extant bilaterians. Cnidarians and sponges have been reported to generate germ cells continuously throughout reproductive life, but previous studies on members of these basal phyla have not examined embryonic germ cell origin. To try to define the embryonic origin of PGCs in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, we examined the expression of members of the vasa and nanos gene families, which are critical genes in bilaterian germ cell specification and development. We found that vasa and nanos family genes are expressed not only in presumptive PGCs late in embryonic development, but also in multiple somatic cell types during early embryogenesis. These results suggest one way in which preformation in germ cell development might have evolved from the ancestral epigenetic mechanism that was probably used by a metazoan ancestor.

Research paper thumbnail of FGF signaling in gastrulation and neural development in Nematostella vectensis , an anthozoan cnidarian

Development Genes and Evolution, 2007

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal transduction pathway serves as one of the key regulator... more The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal transduction pathway serves as one of the key regulators of early metazoan development, displaying conserved roles in the specification of endodermal, mesodermal, and neural fates during vertebrate development. FGF signals also regulate gastrulation, in part, by triggering epithelial to mesenchymal transitions in embryos of both vertebrates and invertebrates. Thus, FGF signals coordinate gastrulation movements across many different phyla. To help understand the breadth of FGF signaling deployment across the animal kingdom, we have examined the presence and expression of genes encoding FGF pathway components in the anthozoan cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. We isolated three FGF ligands (NvFGF8A, NvFGF8B, and NvFGF1A), two FGF receptors (NvFGFRa and NvFGFRb), and two orthologs of vertebrate FGF responsive genes, Sprouty (NvSprouty), an inhibitor of FGF signaling, and Churchill (NvChurchill), a Zn finger transcription factor. We found these FGF ligands, receptors, and response gene expressed asymmetrically along the oral/aboral axis during gastrulation and in a developing chemosensory structure of planula stages known as the apical tuft. These results suggest a conserved role for FGF signaling molecules in coordinating both gastrulation and neural induction that predates the Cambrian explosion and the origins of the Bilateria.

Research paper thumbnail of Broad taxon and gene sampling indicate that chaetognaths are protostomes

Research paper thumbnail of The Hedgehog gene family of the cnidarian, Nematostella vectensis, and implications for understanding metazoan Hedgehog pathway evolution

Developmental Biology, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Pre-Bilaterian Origins of the Hox Cluster and the Hox Code: Evidence from the Sea Anemone, Nematostella vectensis

Research paper thumbnail of A WNT of things to come: Evolution of Wnt signaling and polarity in cnidarians

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of The ancestral role of COE genes may have been in chemoreception: evidence from the development of the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis (Phylum Cnidaria; Class Anthozoa

Development Genes and Evolution, 2004

An orthologue of the COE family of helix-loop-helix transcription factors was recovered from the ... more An orthologue of the COE family of helix-loop-helix transcription factors was recovered from the anthozoan Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria). NvCOE has high sequence similarity to vertebrate and invertebrate orthologues in all three major functional domains of the protein. In situ hybridization studies show early expression through the cleavage period but transcripts are down regulated at gastrulation while remaining expressed at high levels only in the apical tuft of cilia at the aboral end of the planula larva. It is likely that one of the ancestral roles of the COE family of genes may have been in the development of chemosensory neurons.

Research paper thumbnail of From the Cover: Molecular evidence for deep evolutionary roots of bilaterality in animal development

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 2006

Nearly all metazoans show signs of bilaterality, yet it is believed the bilaterians arose from ra... more Nearly all metazoans show signs of bilaterality, yet it is believed the bilaterians arose from radially symmetric forms hundreds of millions of years ago. Cnidarians (corals, sea anemones, and "jellyfish") diverged from other animals before the radiation of the Bilateria. They are diploblastic and are often characterized as being radially symmetrical around their longitudinal (oral-aboral) axis. We have studied the deployment of orthologs of a number of family members of developmental regulatory genes that are expressed asymmetrically during bilaterian embryogenesis from the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. The secreted TGF- genes Nv-dpp, Nv-BMP5-8, six TGF- antagonists (NvChordin, NvNoggin1, NvNoggin2, NvGremlin, NvFollistatin, and NvFollistatin-like), the homeodomain proteins NvGoosecoid (NvGsc) and NvGbx, and the secreted guidance factor, NvNetrin, were studied. NvDpp, NvChordin, NvNoggin1, NvGsc, and NvNetrin are expressed asymmetrically along the axis perpendicular to the oral-aboral axis, the directive axis. Furthermore, NvGbx, and NvChordin are expressed in restricted domains on the left and right sides of the body, suggesting that the directive axis is homologous with the bilaterian dorsal-ventral axis. The asymmetric expression of NvNoggin1 and NvGsc appear to be maintained by the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. The asymmetric expression of NvNoggin1, NvNetrin, and Hox orthologs NvAnthox7, NvAnthox8, NvAnthox1a, and NvAnthox6, in conjunction with the observation that NvNoggin1 is able to induce a secondary axis in Xenopus embryos argues that N. vectensis could possess antecedents of the organization of the bilaterian central nervous system.

Research paper thumbnail of The Hox gene complement of a pelagic chaetognath, Flaccisagitta enflata

Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2007