Expression of Pigment Cell-Specific Genes in the Ontogenesis of the Sea UrchinStrongylocentrotus intermedius

Abstract

One of the polyketide compounds, the naphthoquinone pigment echinochrome, is synthesized in sea urchin pigment cells. We analyzed polyketide synthase (pks) and sulfotransferase (sult) gene expression in embryos and larvae of the sea urchinStrongylocentrotus intermediusfrom various stages of development and in specific tissues of the adults. We observed the highest level of expression of thepksandsultgenes at the gastrula stage. In unfertilized eggs, only trace amounts of thepksandsulttranscripts were detected, whereas no transcripts of these genes were observed in spermatozoids. The addition of shikimic acid, a precursor of naphthoquinone pigments, to zygotes and embryos increased the expression of thepksandsultgenes. Our findings, including the development of specific conditions to promote pigment cell differentiation of embryonic sea urchin cells in culture, represent a definitive study on the molecular signaling pathways that are involved in the biosynthesis of pigments during sea urchin development.