Evolution of developmental processes during embryogenesis of basal nematodes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Einhard Schierenberg
• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 91481246

Embryogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied. However, major differences were found not only in comparison to neighboring phyla but also to other nematode species. Based on our broad initial work, we plan to study the patterns of embryonic development in two representatives of the basal clades 1 and 2 and in a nematomorph as a member of the closest outgroup in order to better understand evolutionary innovations in the developmental program. In quest for embryonic support for the Ecdysozoa hypothesis, we will compare our findings with data from C. elegans, rotifers and tardigrades. Detailed cell lineage studies with 4-D microscopy, 3-D modelling to visualize pattern formation, cell eliminations using laser microbeam to unravel cell-cell interactions and EM studies will be performed. In addition, we will search for genes involved in cell polarity, signal transduction, specification and gastrulation and study their expression in whole-mount embryos (mRNA and protein). As a pilot project, we want to test whether the unusual repetitive elements we found in the R. culicivorax embryo can be related to segmentation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants