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Fig. 4 | EvoDevo

Fig. 4

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

Fig. 4

Minicollagen mRNAs are co-expressed, but the onset of NCOL protein localization is variable. a–d Ncol3 and Ncol4 mRNAs are co-expressed in all developing cnidocytes at the tentacle bud stage. e–h Ncol3 and Ncol1 mRNAs are also largely co-expressed, though cnidocytes that appear to be expressing Ncol3 exclusively can be seen in the ectoderm (arrows f, g). i–l Ncol4 and Ncol1 mRNAs are co-expressed in all cnidocytes. m–p NCOL3 and NCOL4 proteins largely co-localize, though early-stage capsules may express only NCOL3 (arrows n, o) and late-stage capsules may express only NCOL4 (arrowheads o, p). q–t NCOL1 and NCOL4 proteins also co-localize in all developing cnidocytes, though some late-stage capsules may express only NCOL4 (arrows r, t). u In gastrula-stage embryos, cnidocytes comprise approximately 10% of the cells, independent of which antibody is used (NCOL1: 9.39 ± 0.59, NCOL3: 11.01 ± 0.81, NCOL4: 9.11 ± 0.68; mean ± standard error). N = number of embryos analyzed. (V-AG) Co-labeling with mRNA probes and antibodies for the corresponding protein confirms that transcription is downregulated before cnidocyst capsules are fully polymerized as proteins can be detected in cells that no longer express mRNA for each antibody/probe combination (arrows w, aa, ae). ah–ak Co-labeling of Ncol3 mRNA with α-NCOL4 also reveals many late-stage cnidocytes labeled with α-NCOL4 only (arrows aj). Main images are 3D renderings from confocal z-stacks, high-magnification panels are single optical sections

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