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  • © 2018

Transgenic Ascidians

  • Summarizes transgenesis techniques in ascidians and up-to-date concrete research using those techniques
  • Enables readers to quickly access and compare techniques at a glance
  • Helps readers to apply the strategies contained here to their own studies

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (AEMB, volume 1029)

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Hardcover Book USD 169.00
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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    • Yasunori Sasakura
    Pages 1-3
  3. Practical Guide for Ascidian Microinjection: Phallusia mammillata

    • Hitoyoshi Yasuo, Alex McDougall
    Pages 15-24
  4. The Use of cis-Regulatory DNAs as Molecular Tools

    • Kotaro Shimai, Takehiro G. Kusakabe
    Pages 49-68
  5. Investigating Evolutionarily Conserved Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Gene Expression in the Notochord

    • Julie E. Maguire, Aakarsha Pandey, Yushi Wu, Anna Di Gregorio
    Pages 81-99
  6. Purification of Fluorescent Labeled Cells from Dissociated Ciona Embryos

    • Wei Wang, Claudia Racioppi, Basile Gravez, Lionel Christiaen
    Pages 101-107
  7. Germline Transgenesis in Ciona

    • Yasunori Sasakura
    Pages 109-119
  8. The Enhancer Trap in Ciona

    • Yasunori Sasakura
    Pages 121-129
  9. TALEN-Based Knockout System

    • Keita Yoshida, Nicholas Treen
    Pages 131-139
  10. CRISPR Knockouts in Ciona Embryos

    • Shashank Gandhi, Florian Razy-Krajka, Lionel Christiaen, Alberto Stolfi
    Pages 141-152
  11. Cellular Processes of Notochord Formation

    • William C. Smith
    Pages 165-177
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 197-201

About this book

This book comprehensively describes the transgenesis techniques and applied experimental methods in ascidians including enthusiastically developed original devices in addition to concrete examples of developmental biology studies.

Ascidians have been one of the most important model animals in developmental biology for studying molecular and cellular processes underlying formation of the chordate body plan. Transgenic techniques such as microinjection, electropolation, cis-element analysis and application, and TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 have been developed in ascidians for more than 20 years, and now many applied methods, some of which are unique in ascidians, have been accumulated. Those extensive technological innovations, such as cell isolation, cell labeling, germ-line transformation, marker transgenic lines, and the experimental systems for studying notochord formation and nervous system, are exceptional particularly in marine invertebrates.

This book is useful for ascidian researchers to quickly access the techniques in which they are interested as well as to compare each technology to become familiar with specialized tips, and for biologists of other organisms to learn the unique techniques and ingenious attempts specific to ascidians. Providing detailed and easily understandable descriptions of techniques, the book will inspire ascidian specialists to improve their techniques, encourage anyone wanting to begin studying ascidians, and enable readers to immediately apply the techniques to the organisms they research.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Japan

    Yasunori Sasakura

About the editor

Yasunori Sasakura started his research career in Dr. Noriyuki Satoh’s laboratory in 1996. His Ph.D. thesis was about the localization of mRNAs in eggs of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. He then focused on developing the genetic approaches in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. The reason is that he thought that genetics would be necessary to elucidate molecular mechanisms of maternally stored substances. He introduced transposon-mediated germ cell transgenesis and mutagenesis in this ascidian. From then on he brought many technical innovations in the study of Ciona with transgenic techniques. For example, his group has introduced transgenesis-mediated tissue/cell tracing with the photoconvertible protein Kaede, transposon-based specific knockdown of maternally transcribed RNAs, the optogenetic approach to understand neuronal functions, and genome editing techniques in Ciona with TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access