Branchiostoma lanceolatum

Overview
Full NameBranchiostoma lanceolatum
GenusBranchiostoma
Specieslanceolatum
Common NameAmphioxus
AbbreviationB. lanceolatum
Interest

The phylogenetic position of amphioxus, together with its relatively simple and evolutionarily conserved morphology and genome structure, has led to its use as a model for studies of vertebrate evolution. In particular, recent development of technical approaches, as well as access to the complete amphioxus genome sequence, for the Mediterranean amphioxus, Branchiostoma lanceolatum has provided the community with tools with which to study the invertebrate-chordate to vertebrate transition (Bertrand & Escriva, 2011).

Location:

Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic

Attractive features
  • Controlled spawning induction
  • Transparent embryos
  • Micromanipulation techniques available allowing functional approaches in classical embryology and developmental biology
Contributions

Studies with different amphioxus species have helped answer questions about the evolution of the chordate genome, and particularly the evolution of the Hox cluster structure and cis-regulatory elements, the evolution of the control of axial patterning in chordates, and the appearance of vertebrate-specific structures such as the head.

Tools
  • Assembled and annotated genome sequence (550 MB) and many transcriptome resources soon publically available
  • Epigenomic resources including Chip-seq, ATAC-seq, Methylome, CAGE-seq, and 4C for a panel of transcription factors are available for several developmental stages
Drawbacks

Due to a short spawning period (May-July), in vivo experiments are restricted to a short period only. Their life cycle is also relatively long, about 2 years to reach adulthood, and no knockdown techniques are available (no morpholinos, RNAi or siRNA).

Selected references
  • Bertrand S. & Escriva H. (2011) Evolutionary crossroads in developmental biology: amphioxus. Development 138: 4819-30
Transcript Browser
The following browser provides a quick view for new visitors. Use the searching mechanism to find specific features.
NameUnique NameType
transcript:BL96583_cuf8transcript:BL96583_cuf8mRNA
transcript:BL96584_cuf4transcript:BL96584_cuf4mRNA
transcript:BL96585_cuf14transcript:BL96585_cuf14mRNA
transcript:BL96586_cuf15transcript:BL96586_cuf15mRNA
transcript:BL96587_cuf16transcript:BL96587_cuf16mRNA
transcript:BL96588_cuf18transcript:BL96588_cuf18mRNA
transcript:BL96589_cuf20transcript:BL96589_cuf20mRNA
transcript:BL96590_cuf1transcript:BL96590_cuf1mRNA
transcript:BL96591_cuf15transcript:BL96591_cuf15mRNA
transcript:BL96592_cuf9transcript:BL96592_cuf9mRNA
transcript:BL96593_cuf11transcript:BL96593_cuf11mRNA
transcript:BL96594_cuf12transcript:BL96594_cuf12mRNA
transcript:BL96595_cuf13transcript:BL96595_cuf13mRNA
transcript:BL96596_cuf15transcript:BL96596_cuf15mRNA
transcript:BL96597_cuf19transcript:BL96597_cuf19mRNA
transcript:BL96598_cuf21transcript:BL96598_cuf21mRNA
transcript:BL96599_cuf22transcript:BL96599_cuf22mRNA
transcript:BL96601_cuf24transcript:BL96601_cuf24mRNA
transcript:BL96604_cuf28transcript:BL96604_cuf28mRNA
transcript:BL96605_cuf29transcript:BL96605_cuf29mRNA
transcript:BL96606_cuf32transcript:BL96606_cuf32mRNA
transcript:BL96607_cuf34transcript:BL96607_cuf34mRNA
transcript:BL96608_cuf35transcript:BL96608_cuf35mRNA
transcript:BL96609_cuf36transcript:BL96609_cuf36mRNA
transcript:BL96610_cuf38transcript:BL96610_cuf38mRNA

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