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:BL97094_cuf9transcript:BL97094_cuf9mRNA
transcript:BL97095_cuf10transcript:BL97095_cuf10mRNA
transcript:BL97096_cuf2transcript:BL97096_cuf2mRNA
transcript:BL97097_cuf3transcript:BL97097_cuf3mRNA
transcript:BL97098_cuf9transcript:BL97098_cuf9mRNA
transcript:BL97099_cuf13transcript:BL97099_cuf13mRNA
transcript:BL97100_cuf5transcript:BL97100_cuf5mRNA
transcript:BL97101_cuf7transcript:BL97101_cuf7mRNA
transcript:BL97102_cuf5transcript:BL97102_cuf5mRNA
transcript:BL97103_cuf13transcript:BL97103_cuf13mRNA
transcript:BL97104_cuf5transcript:BL97104_cuf5mRNA
transcript:BL97105_cuf6transcript:BL97105_cuf6mRNA
transcript:BL97106_cuf8transcript:BL97106_cuf8mRNA
transcript:BL97107_cuf1transcript:BL97107_cuf1mRNA
transcript:BL97108_cuf2transcript:BL97108_cuf2mRNA
transcript:BL97109_cuf1transcript:BL97109_cuf1mRNA
transcript:BL97110_cuf2transcript:BL97110_cuf2mRNA
transcript:BL97111_cuf1transcript:BL97111_cuf1mRNA
transcript:BL97112_cuf4transcript:BL97112_cuf4mRNA
transcript:BL97113_cuf8transcript:BL97113_cuf8mRNA
transcript:BL97114_cuf11transcript:BL97114_cuf11mRNA
transcript:BL97115_cuf1transcript:BL97115_cuf1mRNA
transcript:BL97116_cuf5transcript:BL97116_cuf5mRNA
transcript:BL97117_cuf7transcript:BL97117_cuf7mRNA
transcript:BL97118_cuf8transcript:BL97118_cuf8mRNA

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