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Mesenchymal Cell Fusion in the Sea Urchin Embryo

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Cell Fusion

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 475))

Summary

Mesenchymal cells of the sea urchin embryo provide a valuable experimental model for the analysis of cell–cell fusion in vivo. The unsurpassed optical transparency of the sea urchin embryo facilitates analysis of cell fusion in vivo using fluorescent markers and time-lapse three-dimensional imaging. Two populations of mesodermal cells engage in homotypic cell–cell fusion during gastrulation: primary mesenchyme cells and blastocoelar cells. In this chapter, we describe methods for studying the dynamics of cell fusion in living embryos. These methods have been used to analyze the fusion of primary mesenchyme cells and are also applicable to blastocoelar cell fusion. Although the molecular basis of cell fusion in the sea urchin has not been investigated, tools have recently become available that highlight the potential of this experimental model for integrating dynamic morphogenetic behaviors with underlying molecular mechanisms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

    Paul G. Hodor & Charles A. Ettensohn

Authors
  1. Paul G. Hodor
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  2. Charles A. Ettensohn
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

    Elizabeth H. Chen

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© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science + Business Media, LLC

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Hodor, P.G., Ettensohn, C.A. (2008). Mesenchymal Cell Fusion in the Sea Urchin Embryo. In: Chen, E.H. (eds) Cell Fusion. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 475. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-250-2_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-250-2_18

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-911-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-250-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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