@article {64847, title = {Attachment of the blastoderm to the vitelline envelope affects gastrulation of insects.}, journal = {Nature}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Mar 27}, abstract = {

During gastrulation, physical forces reshape the simple embryonic tissue to form the complex body plans of multicellular organisms. These forces often cause large-scale asymmetric movements of the embryonic tissue. In many embryos, the gastrulating tissue is surrounded by a rigid protective shell. Although it is well-recognized that gastrulation movements depend on forces that are generated by tissue-intrinsic contractility,\ it is not known whether interactions between the tissue and the protective shell provide additional forces that affect gastrulation. Here we show that a particular part of the blastoderm tissue of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) tightly adheres in a temporally coordinated manner to the vitelline envelope that surrounds the embryo. This attachment generates an additional force that counteracts tissue-intrinsic contractile forces to create asymmetric tissue movements. This localized attachment depends on an αPS2 integrin (inflated), and the knockdown of this integrin leads to a gastrulation phenotype that is consistent with complete loss of attachment. Furthermore, analysis of another integrin (the αPS3 integrin, scab) in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) suggests that gastrulation in this organism also relies on adhesion between the blastoderm and the vitelline envelope. Our findings reveal a conserved mechanism through which the spatiotemporal pattern of tissue adhesion to the vitelline envelope provides controllable, counteracting forces that shape gastrulation movements in insects.

}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-019-1044-3}, author = {Muenster, Stefan and Jain, Akanksha and Mietke, Alexander and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Grill, Stephan W and Tomancak, Pavel} } @article {65111, title = {Regionalized tissue fluidization by an actomyosin cable is required for epithelial gap closure during insect gastrulation.}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {2020 Aug 22}, pages = {5604}, abstract = {

Many animal embryos face early on in development the problem of having to pull and close an epithelial sheet around the spherical yolk-sac. During this gastrulation process, known as epiboly, the spherical geometry of the egg dictates that the epithelial sheet first expands and subsequently compacts to close around the sphere. While it is well recognized that contractile actomyosin cables can drive epiboly movements, it is unclear how pulling on the leading edge can lead to simultaneous tissue expansion and compaction. Moreover, the epithelial sheet spreading over the sphere is mechanically stressed and this stress needs to be dissipated for seamless closure. While oriented cell division is known to dissipate tissue stresses during epiboly, it is unclear how this can be achieved without cell division. Here we show that during extraembryonic tissue (serosa) epiboly in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, the non-proliferative serosa becomes regionalized into two distinct territories: a dorsal region under higher tension away from the leading edge with larger, isodiametric and non-rearranging cells, and a more fluid ventral region under lower tension surrounding the leading edge with smaller, anisotropic cells undergoing cell intercalation. Our results suggest that fluidization of the leading edge is effected by a heterogeneous actomyosin cable that drives sequential eviction and intercalation of individual cells away from the serosa margin. Since this developmental solution utilized during epiboly resembles the mechanism of wound healing in other systems, we propose actomyosin cable-driven local tissue fluidization as a conserved morphogenetic module for closure of epithelial gaps.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1101/744193}, author = {Jain, Akanksha and Ulman, Vladimir and Mukherjee, Argo and Prakash, Mangal and Pimpale, Lokesh and Munster, Stefan and Panfilio, Kristen A. and Jug, Florian and Grill, Stephan WA. and Tomancak, Pavel and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios} } @article {49451, title = {Integrin-mediated attachment of the blastoderm to the vitelline envelope impacts gastrulation of insects.}, journal = {bioRxiv}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Oct 2}, abstract = {

During gastrulation, physical forces reshape the simple embryonic tissue to form a complex body plan of multicellular organisms. These forces often cause large-scale asymmetric movements of the embryonic tissue. In many embryos, the tissue undergoing gastrulation movements is surrounded by a rigid protective shell. While it is well recognized that gastrulation movements depend on forces generated by tissue-intrinsic contractility, it is not known if interactions between the tissue and the protective shell provide additional forces that impact gastrulation. Here we show that a particular part of the blastoderm tissue of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum tightly adheres in a temporally coordinated manner to the vitelline envelope surrounding the embryo. This attachment generates an additional force that counteracts the tissue-intrinsic contractile forces to create asymmetric tissue movements. Furthermore, this localized attachment is mediated by a specific integrin, and its knock-down leads to a gastrulation phenotype consistent with complete loss of attachment. Moreover, analysis of another integrin in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster suggests that gastrulation in this organism also relies on adhesion between the blastoderm and the vitelline. Together, our findings reveal a conserved mechanism whereby the spatiotemporal pattern of tissue adhesion to the vitelline envelope provides controllable counter-forces that shape gastrulation movements in insects.

}, doi = {10.1101/421701}, author = {Muenster, Stefan and Jain, Akanksha and Mietke, Alexander and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Grill, Stephan W and Tomancak, Pavel} } @article {48278, title = {Multi-view light-sheet imaging and tracking with the MaMuT software reveals the cell lineage of a direct developing arthropod limb.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, year = {2017}, month = {2018 Mar 29}, pages = {e34410}, abstract = {

During development, coordinated cell behaviors orchestrate tissue and organ morphogenesis. Detailed descriptions of cell lineages and behaviors provide a powerful framework to elucidate the mechanisms of morphogenesis. To study the cellular basis of limb development, we imaged transgenic fluorescently-labeled embryos from the crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis with multi-view light-sheet microscopy at high spatiotemporal resolution over several days of embryogenesis. The cell lineage of outgrowing thoracic limbs was reconstructed at single-cell resolution with new software called Massive Multi-view Tracker (MaMuT). In silico clonal analyses suggested that the early limb primordium becomes subdivided into anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral compartments whose boundaries intersect at the distal tip of the growing limb. Limb-bud formation is associated with spatial modulation of cell proliferation, while limb elongation is also driven by preferential orientation of cell divisions along the proximal-distal growth axis. Cellular reconstructions were predictive of the expression patterns of limb development genes including the BMP morphogen Decapentaplegic.

}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.34410}, author = {Wolff, Carsten and Tinevez, Jean-Yves and Pietzsch, Tobias and Stamataki, Evangelia and Harich, Benjamin and Guignard, Leo and Preibisch, Stephan and Shorte, Spencer and Keller, Philipp J and Tomancak, Pavel and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios} } @article {47727, title = {Non-insect crustacean models in developmental genetics including an encomium to Parhyale hawaiensis.}, journal = {Current Opinion in Genetics \& Development}, volume = {39}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jul 28}, pages = {149-156}, abstract = {

The impressive diversity of body plans, lifestyles and segmental specializations exhibited by crustaceans (barnacles, copepods, shrimps, crabs, lobsters and their kin) provides great material to address longstanding questions in evolutionary developmental biology. Recent advances in forward and reverse genetics and in imaging approaches applied in the amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis and other emerging crustacean model species have made it possible to probe the molecular and cellular basis of crustacean diversity. A number of biological and technical qualities like the slow tempo and holoblastic cleavage mode, the stereotypy of many cellular processes, the functional and morphological diversity of limbs along the body axis, and the availability of various experimental manipulations, have made Parhyale a powerful system to study normal development and regeneration.

}, issn = {1879-0380}, doi = {10.1016/j.gde.2016.07.004}, author = {Stamataki, Evangelia and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios} } @article {47507, title = {Toll genes have an ancestral role in axis elongation.}, journal = {Current Biology : CB}, volume = {26}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 May 18}, pages = {1609-15}, abstract = {

One of the key morphogenetic processes used during development is the controlled intercalation of cells between their neighbors. This process has been co-opted into a range of developmental events, and it also underlies an event that occurs in each major group of bilaterians: elongation of the embryo along the anterior-posterior axis [1]. In Drosophila, a novel component of this process was recently discovered by Par{\'e} et\ al., who showed that three Toll genes function together to drive cell intercalation during germband extension [2]. This finding raises the question of whether this role of Toll genes is an evolutionary novelty of flies or a general mechanism of embryonic morphogenesis. Here we show that the Toll gene function in axis elongation is, in fact, widely conserved among arthropods. First, we functionally demonstrate that two Toll genes are required for cell intercalation in the beetle Tribolium castaneum. We then show that these genes belong to a previously undescribed Toll subfamily and that members of this subfamily exhibit striped expression (as seen in Tribolium and previously reported in Drosophila [3-5]) in embryos of six other arthropod species spanning the entire phylum. Last, we show that two of these Toll genes are required for normal morphogenesis during anterior-posterior embryo elongation in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, a member of the most basally branching arthropod lineage. From our findings, we hypothesize that Toll genes had a morphogenetic function in embryo elongation in the last common ancestor of all arthropods, which existed over 550 million years ago.

}, issn = {1879-0445}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.055}, author = {Benton, Matthew A and Pechmann, Matthias and Frey, Nadine and Stappert, Dominik and Conrads, Kai H and Chen, Yen-Ta and Stamataki, Evangelia and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Roth, Siegfried} } @article {46377, title = {Transgenesis in non-model organisms: the case of Parhyale.}, journal = {Methods Mol Biol}, volume = {1196}, year = {2014}, month = {2014}, pages = {145-81}, abstract = {

One of the most striking manifestations of Hox gene activity is the morphological and functional diversity of arthropod body plans, segments, and associated appendages. Among arthropod models, the amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis satisfies a number of appealing biological and technical requirements to study the Hox control of tissue and organ morphogenesis. Parhyale embryos undergo direct development from fertilized eggs into miniature adults within 10 days and are amenable to all sorts of embryological and functional genetic manipulations. Furthermore, each embryo develops a series of specialized appendages along the anterior-posterior body axis, offering exceptional material to probe the genetic basis of appendage patterning, growth, and differentiation. Here, we describe the methodologies and techniques required for transgenesis-based gain-of-function studies of Hox genes in Parhyale embryos. First, we introduce a protocol for efficient microinjection of early-stage Parhyale embryos. Second, we describe the application of fast and reliable assays to test the activity of the Minos DNA transposon in embryos. Third, we present the use of Minos-based transgenesis vectors to generate stable and transient transgenic Parhyale. Finally, we describe the development and application of a conditional heat-inducible misexpression system to study the role of the Hox gene Ultrabithorax in Parhyale appendage specialization. Beyond providing a useful resource for Parhyalists, this chapter also aims to provide a road map for researchers working on other emerging model organisms. Acknowledging the time and effort that need to be invested in developing transgenic approaches in new species, it is all worth it considering the wide scope of experimentation that opens up once transgenesis is established.

}, issn = {1940-6029}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-1242-1_10}, author = {Kontarakis, Zacharias and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios} } @article {46378, title = {Tribolium embryo morphogenesis: may the force be with you.}, journal = {Bioarchitecture}, volume = {4}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Jan-Feb}, pages = {16-21}, abstract = {

Development of multicellular organisms depends on patterning and growth mechanisms encoded in the genome, but also on the physical properties and mechanical interactions of the constituent cells that interpret these genetic cues. This fundamental biological problem requires integrated studies at multiple levels of biological organization: from genes, to cell behaviors, to tissue morphogenesis. We have recently combined functional genetics with live imaging approaches in embryos of the insect Tribolium castaneum, in order to understand their remarkable transformation from a uniform single-layered blastoderm into a condensed multi-layered embryo covered by extensive extra-embryonic tissues. We first developed a quick and reliable methodology to fluorescently label various cell components in entire Tribolium embryos. Live imaging of labeled embryos at single cell resolution provided detailed descriptions of cell behaviors and tissue movements during normal embryogenesis. We then compared cell and tissue dynamics between wild-type and genetically perturbed embryos that exhibited altered relative proportions of constituent tissues. This systematic comparison led to a qualitative model of the molecular, cellular and tissue interactions that orchestrate the observed epithelial rearrangements. We expect this work to establish the Tribolium embryo as a powerful and attractive model system for biologists and biophysicists interested in the molecular, cellular and mechanical control of tissue morphogenesis.

}, keywords = {Animals, Tribolium}, issn = {1949-100X}, doi = {10.4161/bioa.27815}, author = {Benton, Matthew A and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios} } @article {6356, title = {Cell and tissue dynamics during Tribolium embryogenesis revealed by versatile fluorescence labeling approaches.}, journal = {Development}, volume = {140}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Aug}, pages = {3210-20}, abstract = {

Studies on new arthropod models such as the beetle Tribolium castaneum are shifting our knowledge of embryonic patterning and morphogenesis beyond the Drosophila paradigm. In contrast to Drosophila, Tribolium embryos exhibit the short-germ type of development and become enveloped by extensive extra-embryonic membranes, the amnion and serosa. The genetic basis of these processes has been the focus of active research. Here, we complement genetic approaches with live fluorescence imaging of Tribolium embryos to make the link between gene function and morphogenetic cell behaviors during blastoderm formation and differentiation, germband condensation and elongation, and extra-embryonic development. We first show that transient labeling methods result in strong, homogeneous and persistent expression of fluorescent markers in Tribolium embryos, labeling the chromatin, membrane, cytoskeleton or combinations thereof. We then use co-injection of fluorescent markers with dsRNA for live imaging of embryos with disrupted caudal gene function caused by RNA interference. Using these approaches, we describe and compare cell and tissue dynamics in Tribolium embryos with wild-type and altered fate maps. We find that Tribolium germband condensation is effected by cell contraction and intercalation, with the latter being dependent on the anterior-posterior patterning system. We propose that germband condensation drives initiation of amnion folding, whereas expansion of the amniotic fold and closure of the amniotic cavity are likely driven by contraction of an actomyosin cable at the boundary between the amnion and serosa. Our methodology provides a comprehensive framework for testing quantitative models of patterning, growth and morphogenetic mechanisms in Tribolium and other arthropod species.

}, issn = {1477-9129}, doi = {10.1242/dev.096271}, author = {Benton, Matthew A and Akam, Michael and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios} } @article {6358, title = {Hox gene Ultrabithorax regulates distinct sets of target genes at successive stages of Drosophila haltere morphogenesis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {108}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Feb 15}, pages = {2855-60}, abstract = {

Hox genes encode highly conserved transcription factors that regionalize the animal body axis by controlling complex developmental processes. Although they are known to operate in multiple cell types and at different stages, we are still missing the batteries of genes targeted by any one Hox gene over the course of a single developmental process to achieve a particular cell and organ morphology. The transformation of wings into halteres by the Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) in Drosophila melanogaster presents an excellent model system to study the Hox control of transcriptional networks during successive stages of appendage morphogenesis and cell differentiation. We have used an inducible misexpression system to switch on Ubx in the wing epithelium at successive stages during metamorphosis{\textendash}in the larva, prepupa, and pupa. We have then used extensive microarray expression profiling and quantitative RT-PCR to identify the primary transcriptional responses to Ubx. We find that Ubx targets range from regulatory genes like transcription factors and signaling components to terminal differentiation genes affecting a broad repertoire of cell behaviors and metabolic reactions. Ubx up- and down-regulates hundreds of downstream genes at each stage, mostly in a subtle manner. Strikingly, our analysis reveals that Ubx target genes are largely distinct at different stages of appendage morphogenesis, suggesting extensive interactions between Hox genes and hormone-controlled regulatory networks to orchestrate complex genetic programs during metamorphosis.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cluster Analysis, Developmental, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Gene Expression Regulation, Gene Regulatory Networks, Homeodomain Proteins, In Situ Hybridization, Life Cycle Stages, Microarray Analysis, Morphogenesis, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Transcription Factors, Wing}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1015077108}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Akam, Michael} } @article {6357, title = {A versatile strategy for gene trapping and trap conversion in emerging model organisms.}, journal = {Development }, volume = {138}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Jun}, pages = {2625-30}, abstract = {

Genetic model organisms such as Drosophila, C. elegans and the mouse provide formidable tools for studying mechanisms of development, physiology and behaviour. Established models alone, however, allow us to survey only a tiny fraction of the morphological and functional diversity present in the animal kingdom. Here, we present iTRAC, a versatile gene-trapping approach that combines the implementation of unbiased genetic screens with the generation of sophisticated genetic tools both in established and emerging model organisms. The approach utilises an exon-trapping transposon vector that carries an integrase docking site, allowing the targeted integration of new constructs into trapped loci. We provide proof of principle for iTRAC in the emerging model crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis: we generate traps that allow specific developmental and physiological processes to be visualised in unparalleled detail, we show that trapped genes can be easily cloned from an unsequenced genome, and we demonstrate targeting of new constructs into a trapped locus. Using this approach, gene traps can serve as platforms for generating diverse reporters, drivers for tissue-specific expression, gene knockdown and other genetic tools not yet imagined.

}, keywords = {Animal, Animals, Cloning, Crustacea, DNA Transposable Elements, Genetic Techniques, Genetic Vectors, Integrases, Models, Molecular}, issn = {1477-9129}, doi = {10.1242/dev.066324}, author = {Kontarakis, Zacharias and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Kiupakis, Alexandros and Konstantinides, Nikolaos and Douris, Vassilis and Averof, Michalis} } @article {6360, title = {Knockdown of parhyale ultrabithorax recapitulates evolutionary changes in crustacean appendage morphology.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {106}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Aug 18}, pages = {13892-6}, abstract = {

Crustaceans possess remarkably diverse appendages, both between segments of a single individual as well as between species. Previous studies in a wide range of crustaceans have demonstrated a correlation between the anterior expression boundary of the homeotic (Hox) gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and the location and number of specialized thoracic feeding appendages, called maxillipeds. Given that Hox genes regulate regional identity in organisms as diverse as mice and flies, these observations in crustaceans led to the hypothesis that Ubx expression regulates the number of maxillipeds and that evolutionary changes in Ubx expression have generated various aspects of crustacean appendage diversity. Specifically, evolutionary changes in the expression boundary of Ubx have resulted in crustacean species with either 0, 1, 2, or 3 pairs of thoracic maxillipeds. Here we test this hypothesis by altering the expression of Ubx in Parhyale hawaiensis, a crustacean that normally possesses a single pair of maxillipeds. By reducing Ubx expression, we can generate Parhyale with additional maxillipeds in a pattern reminiscent of that seen in other crustacean species, and these morphological alterations are maintained as the animals molt and mature. These results provide critical evidence supporting the proposition that changes in Ubx expression have played a role in generating crustacean appendage diversity and lend general insights into the mechanisms of morphological evolution.

}, keywords = {Animals, Base Sequence, Biological, Biological Evolution, Cloning, Crustacea, Electron, Extremities, Gene Expression Regulation, Genes, Genetic Techniques, Homeobox, Homeodomain Proteins, In Situ Hybridization, Microscopy, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, RNA, Scanning, Small Interfering}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.0903105106}, author = {Liubicich, Danielle M and Serano, Julia M and Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Kontarakis, Zacharias and Protas, Meredith E and Kwan, Elaine and Chatterjee, Sandip and Tran, Khoa D and Averof, Michalis and Patel, Nipam H} } @article {6359, title = {Probing the evolution of appendage specialization by Hox gene misexpression in an emerging model crustacean.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {106}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Aug 18}, pages = {13897-902}, abstract = {

Changes in the expression of Hox genes have been widely linked to the evolution of animal body plans, but functional demonstrations of this relationship have been impeded by the lack of suitable model organisms. A classic case study involves the repeated evolution of specialized feeding appendages, called maxillipeds, from anterior thoracic legs, in many crustacean lineages. These leg-to-maxilliped transformations correlate with the loss of Ultrabithorax (Ubx) expression from corresponding segments, which is proposed to be the underlying genetic cause. To functionally test this hypothesis, we establish tools for conditional misexpression and use these to misexpress Ubx in the crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis. Ectopic Ubx leads to homeotic transformations of anterior appendages toward more posterior thoracic fates, including maxilliped-to-leg transformations, confirming the capacity of Ubx to control thoracic (leg) versus gnathal (feeding) segmental identities. We find that maxillipeds not only are specified in the absence of Ubx, but also can develop in the presence of low/transient Ubx expression. Our findings suggest a path for the gradual evolutionary transition from thoracic legs to maxillipeds, in which stepwise changes in Hox gene expression have brought about this striking morphological and functional transformation.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cloning, Crustacea, Down-Regulation, Electron, Extremities, Gene Expression Regulation, Genes, Genetic, Genetically Modified, Heat-Shock Proteins, Homeobox, Homeodomain Proteins, Immunohistochemistry, Microscopy, Models, Molecular, Phenotype, Scanning, Transgenes}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.0902804106}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Kontarakis, Zacharias and Liubicich, Danielle M and Serano, Julia M and Akam, Michael and Patel, Nipam H and Averof, Michalis} } @article {6361, title = {The DNA transposon Minos as a tool for transgenesis and functional genomic analysis in vertebrates and invertebrates.}, journal = {Genome Biology}, volume = {8 Suppl 1}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Oct 31}, pages = {S2}, abstract = {

Transposons are powerful tools for conducting genetic manipulation and functional studies in organisms that are of scientific, economic, or medical interest. Minos, a member of the Tc1/mariner family of DNA transposons, exhibits a low insertional bias and transposes with high frequency in vertebrates and invertebrates. Its use as a tool for transgenesis and genome analysis of rather different animal species is described.

}, keywords = {Animals, DNA Transposable Elements, Gene Transfer Techniques, Genomics, Invertebrates, Vertebrates}, issn = {1465-6914}, doi = {10.1186/gb-2007-8-s1-s2}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Oehler, Stefan and Kapetanaki, Maria G and Savakis, Charalambos} } @article {6362, title = {Hox go omics: insights from Drosophila into Hox gene targets.}, journal = {Genome Biology}, volume = {8}, year = {2007}, month = {2007}, pages = {208}, abstract = {

Genetic studies of the targets of the Hox genes have revealed only the tip of the iceberg. Recent microarray studies that have identified hundreds more transcriptional responses to Hox genes in Drosophila will help elucidate the role of Hox genes in development and evolution.

}, keywords = {Animals, Drosophila, Genes, Genetic, Homeobox, Microarray Analysis, Transcription}, issn = {1465-6914}, doi = {10.1186/gb-2007-8-3-208}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Akam, Michael} } @article {6363, title = {Establishing genetic transformation for comparative developmental studies in the crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {102}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 May 31}, pages = {7888-93}, abstract = {

The amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis has been put forward as an attractive organism for evolutionary developmental comparisons, and considerable effort is being invested in isolating developmental genes and studying their expression patterns in this species. The scope of these studies could be significantly expanded by establishing means for genetic manipulation that would enable direct studies of gene functions to be carried out in this species. Here, we report the use of the Minos transposable element for the genetic transformation of P. hawaiensis. Transformed amphipods can be obtained from approximately 30\% of surviving individuals injected with both a Minos element carrying the 3xP3-DsRed fluorescent marker and with mRNA encoding the Minos transposase. Integral copies of the transposon are inserted into the host genome and are stably inherited through successive generations. We have used reporter constructs to identify a muscle-specific regulatory element from Parhyale, demonstrating that this transformation vector can be used to test the activity of cis-regulatory elements in this species. The relatively high efficiency of this transgenic methodology opens new opportunities for the direct study of cis-regulatory elements and gene functions in Parhyale, allowing functional studies to be carried out beyond previously established model systems in insects.

}, keywords = {Amphipoda, Animal, Animals, Cloning, Developmental Biology, DNA Primers, DNA Transposable Elements, Gene Transfer Techniques, Genetic, HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins, Luminescent Proteins, Microinjections, Models, Molecular, Plasmids, Transformation, Transposases}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.0501101102}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Averof, Michalis} } @article {6364, title = {Efficient transformation of the beetle Tribolium castaneum using the Minos transposable element: quantitative and qualitative analysis of genomic integration events.}, journal = {Genetics}, volume = {167}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Jun}, pages = {737-46}, abstract = {

Genetic transformation in insects holds great promise as a tool for genetic manipulation in species of particular scientific, economic, or medical interest. A number of transposable elements have been tested recently as potential vectors for transformation in a range of insects. Minos is one of the most promising elements because it appears to be active in diverse species and has the capacity to carry large inserts. We report here the use of the Minos element as a transformation vector in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera), an important species for comparative developmental and pest management studies. Transgenic G(1) beetles were recovered from 32.4\% of fertile G(0){\textquoteright}s injected with a plasmid carrying a 3xP3-EGFP-marked transposon and in vitro synthesized mRNA encoding the Minos transposase. This transformation efficiency is 2.8-fold higher than that observed when using a plasmid helper. Molecular and genetic analyses show that several independent insertions can be recovered from a single injected parent, but that the majority of transformed individuals carry single Minos insertions. These results establish Minos as one of the most efficient vectors for genetic transformation in insects. In combination with piggyBac-based transgenesis, our work allows the introduction of sophisticated multicomponent genetic tools in Tribolium.

}, keywords = {Animals, Base Sequence, Crosses, DNA Transposable Elements, Female, Genetic, Genome, Insertional, Male, Mutagenesis, Plasmids, Transformation, Transposases, Tribolium}, issn = {0016-6731}, doi = {10.1534/genetics.103.023085}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Berghammer, Andreas J and Averof, Michalis and Klingler, Martin} } @article {6365, title = {Developmental evolution: Hox proteins ring the changes.}, journal = {Current Biology}, volume = {12}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Apr 16}, pages = {R291-3}, abstract = {

The evolution of body form is believed to involve changes in expression of developmental genes, largely through changes in cis-regulatory elements. Recent studies suggest that changes in the sequences of key developmental regulators, such as the Hox proteins, may also play an important role.

}, keywords = {Animals, Biological Evolution, Crustacea, Developmental, DNA-Binding Proteins, Drosophila Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Homeodomain Proteins, Insects, Transcription Factors}, issn = {0960-9822}, author = {Pavlopoulos, Anastasios and Averof, Michalis} }