Clytia hemisphaerica

Overview
Full NameClytia hemisphaerica
GenusClytia
Specieshemisphaerica
Common NameJellyfish
AbbreviationC. hemisphaerica
Interest
Clytia hemisphaerica

is a hydrozoan–group cnidarian with both a colonial, vegetatively propagating polyp stage and free-living, sexual medusae. The initial scientific motivation to develop Clytia in the early 2000s came from a group investigating embryo polarity development (E. Houliston and colleagues). Sequence resource development was shared with an Evo-Devo group (M. Manuel and colleagues) seeking a medusa-bearing model from the Cnidaria, The evolutionary interest of the medusa lies in many complex features including striated muscle and sense organs that are absent in the polyp and thus from the main cnidarian molecular models (Nematostella, Hydra). Villefranche zoologist Danièle Carré proposed Clytia based on availability and cultivability. Clytia (= Phialidium) species are common world-wide, and had previously been studied in a variety of domains, including a large body of experimental embryology by G. Freeman. In recent years, Clytia has helped answer questions including regulation of oocyte maturation, origins of embryo polarity and evolution of Hox genes and striated muscle. It has potential to provide a powerful model in many domains (cell/developmental biology; evolution, ecology), and also as teaching/ outreach tool.

Distribution

Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic

Attractive features
  • Transparent eggs, embryos, larvae and medusae for microscopy
  • Embryos large enough (180µm diameter) for easy micromanipulation
  • Small jellyfish (1cm in diameter)
  • Short life cycle (2-3 months) including a vegetative polyp stage, which provides a continuous supply of genetically identical jellyfish
  • Convenient light-induced spawning and peptide-induced metamorphosis
Tools
  • Assembled genome sequence (450 MB) and many transcriptome resources soon available
  • Self-crossed immortal polyp colonies available which can be easily distributed as ‘cuttings’ of the immortal polyp colonies between labs
  • Gene knockdown is routine and gene edited colonies are being successfully developed
Selected references
  • Carre, D. and Carre, C. (2000) Origin of germ cells, sex determination, and sex inversion in medusae of the genus Clytia (Hydrozoa, leptomedusae): the influence of temperature. J Exp Zool 287, 233-42 Freeman, G. The role of polarity in the development of the hydrozoan planula larva. Wilhelm Roux's Archives 190, 168-184 (1981).
  • Houliston, E., Momose, T. Manuel, M. (2010). Clytia hemisphaerica: a jellyfish cousin joins the laboratory. Trends Genet 26, 159-167
  • Lapébie, P et al (2014). Differential Responses to Wnt and PCP Disruption Predict Expression and Developmental Function of Conserved and Novel Genes in a Cnidarian. PLoS Genetics, 10(9): e1004590. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1004590
  • Steinmetz, P.R. et al. (2012). Independent evolution of striated muscles in cnidarians and bilaterians. Nature 487, 231-234
Count Summary
The following features are currently present for this organism
Feature TypeCount
Scaffolds7,644
Genes45,872
Transcripts73,855
Proteins25,087
Transcript Browser
The following browser provides a quick view for new visitors. Use the searching mechanism to find specific features.
NameUnique NameType
TCONS_00058451TCONS_00058451transcript
TCONS_00058452TCONS_00058452transcript
TCONS_00058453TCONS_00058453transcript
TCONS_00058454TCONS_00058454transcript
TCONS_00058455TCONS_00058455transcript
TCONS_00058456TCONS_00058456transcript
TCONS_00058457TCONS_00058457transcript
TCONS_00058458TCONS_00058458transcript
TCONS_00058459TCONS_00058459transcript
TCONS_00058460TCONS_00058460transcript
TCONS_00058461TCONS_00058461transcript
TCONS_00058462TCONS_00058462transcript
TCONS_00058463TCONS_00058463transcript
TCONS_00058464TCONS_00058464transcript
TCONS_00058465TCONS_00058465transcript
TCONS_00058466TCONS_00058466transcript
TCONS_00058467TCONS_00058467transcript
TCONS_00058468TCONS_00058468transcript
TCONS_00058469TCONS_00058469transcript
TCONS_00058470TCONS_00058470transcript
TCONS_00058471TCONS_00058471transcript
TCONS_00058472TCONS_00058472transcript
TCONS_00058473TCONS_00058473transcript
TCONS_00058474TCONS_00058474transcript
TCONS_00058475TCONS_00058475transcript

Pages