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SUMMARY:The spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum as a model to study the ances
 tral mechanisms of bilaterian metazoan development - Hiroki Oda\, Osaka\, 
 Japan
DTSTART:20130222T120000Z
DTEND:20130222T130000Z
UID:TALK43291@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jack Green
DESCRIPTION:It was more than twelve years ago when we started to use the s
 pider Parasteatoda tepidariorum (formerly known as Achaearanea tepidarioru
 m) as a new model organism for cell and developmental biology.  At that ti
 me\, we were starting to recognize significant variations existing even wi
 thin the arthropod phylum.  Comparison of the domain structures of classic
 al cadherins responsible for adherens junction assembly implied that big c
 hanges had occurred at least in the lineages leading to the insects and ve
 rtebrates.  Tight junctions\, the junction type specific to the vertebrate
 s and urochordates\, are exceptionally observed in the chelicerate group\,
  including spiders.  In particular\, old papers on experiments with spider
  and horseshoe crab embryos tempted us to speculate that spider embryos ma
 y have what Drosophila embryos do not have.  For example\, the chelicerate
  embryos have twinning capabilities\, which require regulative mechanisms 
 of axis formation as in the vertebrate embryos.  Despite the start of spid
 er work with great interest\, it was initially not promising because we ha
 d no means to investigate gene functions.  But\, the turning point came wh
 en we found that repeated injections of dsRNA for short-gastrulation into 
 adult females grossly affected dorso-ventral axis formation in the embryos
 .  Now\, many other techniques are available\, including microinjection\, 
 cell labeling\, embryonic RNAi\, and live imaging with fluorescent protein
 s.  Using these techniques\, we have shown\, in part\, that the mechanisms
  underlying the formation of the arthropod body plan largely differ in Dro
 sophila and Parasteatoda\, which may help to fill the gaps in knowledge be
 tween the insects and vertebrates.  We hope that use of the spider Paraste
 atoda tepidariorum will promote the understanding of not only evolutionary
  and developmental processes in the arthropods but also their relationship
 s with other metazoans.
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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