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The Role of PI3K/AKT Signaling in the Development of Ciona intestinalis
Author(s) -
EvansAnderson Heather J.,
Tucker James,
Intwala Arti
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.529.2
Subject(s) - ciona intestinalis , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , protein kinase b , biology , ciona , morphogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , heart development , genetics , gene , embryonic stem cell
In vertebrates, the regulation of cardiac myocyte proliferation has been attributed to FoxO transcription factors, which are mediated by PI3K/AKT signaling. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of altered PI3K/AKT signaling on heart development in Ciona intestinalis . We hypothesized that altered PI3K/AKT signaling would disrupt Ciona heart formation due to reduced proliferation of cardiac myocytes. In order to determine the developmental impact of altered PI3K/AKT signaling, Ciona larvae were generated via timed in vitro fertilization and then treated with drugs to specifically alter PI3K/AKT signaling. Ciona larvae were treated with drugs during the period of morphogenesis, which encompasses heart formation. Preliminary results show altered heart morphogenesis and delayed development in Ciona juveniles treated with the PI3K‐specific inhibitor in comparison to those treated with the other drugs or non‐treated controls. In addition, the size of hearts in Ciona juveniles treated with an AKT‐specific inhibitor was significantly reduced. Furthermore, increased expression of ciFoxO was observed in juveniles treated with AKT‐specific inhibitor. Future directions include the use of real time RT‐PCR to assay ciFoxO transcriptional activity and the utilization of immunohistochemistry to detect proliferation and apoptosis rates in the hearts of treated Ciona .