Research theme

Tailbud feature binds various chordates into one common group because all chordates have tails at larval stage. In this study, to understand a comprehensive anatomy of tailbud embryo at single-cell-level, we reconstructed three-dimensional computer model from confocal image stacks of Ciona tailbud embryo (stage 22, 10.9 hpf at 18 °C) by using Tassy’s method (2006). As a result, we characterized unique cell arrangement in each tissue and revealed that the tailbud embryo consists of 1583 cells.

Purpose of the Research Project Different region of central nervous system, fore brain, mid brain, hind brain and spinal cord originates from one neural tube at organogenesis period. Defects of neural tube formation cause severe diseases, including anencephaly and spina bifida. While understanding of differentiation at the molecular level has been deepened, the molecular mechanism of the morphogenesis of neural tubes at different regions remains to be clarified. One of chordate, ascidian a