Structural and functional analysis of the development of the translucent sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis

Cnidarians are the closest living relatives to bilaterians and therefore they are placed to provide insights into the evolution of bilaterian properties. In this context, the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is a unique system in which embryology and regeneration can be actively compared. In here, we first describe a new method for the structural analysis of the embryogenesis of this animal, based on in vivo imaging of actin and tubulin as a new tool to analyze biological phenomena from both the quantitative and qualitative point of view. Secondly, Nematostella embryogenesis is analyzed on a functional level through the characterization of SNAIL transcriptional factors, key regulators either during development and disease in higher organisms. Specifically, we analyzed the structure and the cellular localization pattern of both NvSNAILA and B in comparison to the human SNAIL1 and 2, taking the advantage of the use of both HeLa cells and Nematostella embryos. Furthermore, we tested the same proteins for their ability to move in different cellular compartments. Through this study we found out that, differently from SNAIL transcriptional factors described before, NvSNAILA is specifically enriched in the nucleoli co-localizing with nucleolar markers even after nucleolar disruption. We then tried to address the role of NvSNAILA during Nematostella embryogenesis, finding a possible function as an endoderm organizer during gastrulation. In summary, our work proposes to extend the study from the specific to the general, trying to understand in which way molecular aspects within the individual cells can influence the embryogenesis of an organism.