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Fig. 2 | EvoDevo

Fig. 2

From: PaxA, but not PaxC, is required for cnidocyte development in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

Fig. 2

Stages of cnidogenesis in N. vectensis. a–f Mature nematocyst capsules (yellow, DAPI) are first detected in the ectoderm in the late planula stage and are dense in the tentacle tips at the polyp stage (f, arrow). g–l Expression of Ncol3 mRNA (green) and NCOL3 protein (red) at the gastrula stage (h). New cnidocytes continue to develop in the embryonic ectoderm at all stages, even when mature cnidocytes (yellow, DAPI) are present in this tissue (k, l). m–s Multiple stages of cnidocytes are present in the ectoderm at the same time. Early-stage cnidocytes express Ncol3 mRNA only (m); later, many developing cnidocytes express mRNA and translated protein at the same time (n, o). Late-stage cnidocytes express protein only (P) and appear like hollow cylinders (arrows, q). r In the late planula, developing cnidocytes are dense in the ectoderm (Ec) adjacent to the blastopore (asterisk). Early-stage cnidocytes (black arrows) appear shifted toward the mesoglea side of the ectoderm (dotted line), and late-stage cnidocytes (white arrows) appear shifted toward the apical side of the ectoderm (solid line). (r corresponds to the boxed region in j.) s Cells expressing Ncol3 mRNA only continue to develop in the embryonic ectoderm, even in the presence of mature cnidocytes (arrows, s). (s corresponds to the boxed region in r). t NCOL3 protein (red) and DAPI (yellow) do not co-localize at any stage of development. u Cartoon summary of cnidocyte development as observed through Ncol3 and DAPI labeling. Colors correspond to the labeling in a–t. Nuclei are blue, DAPI. The blastopore/oral pole is oriented to the top unless otherwise indicated by asterisk for this and all subsequent figures. Images in a–l are 3D renderings from confocal z-stacks; images m–t are single optical sections

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