Studying Tunicata WBR Using Botrylloides anceps

Arzu Karahan; Esra Öztürk; Berivan Temiz; Simon Blanchoud

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-2172-1_16

Studying Tunicata WBR Using Botrylloides anceps

Methods Mol Biol. 2022:2450:311-332. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2172-1_16.

Authors

Arzu Karahan¹, Esra Öztürk², Berivan Temiz², Simon Blanchoud³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey. arzukarahan@ims.metu.edu.tr.
² Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey.
³ Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Abstract

Tunicates are marine filter-feeding invertebrates that can be found worldwide and which are the closest phylogenetic group to the vertebrates (Craniata). Of particular interest, colonial tunicates are the only known chordates that can undergo Whole-Body Regeneration (WBR) via vascular budding. In Botrylloides anceps, a fully functional adult regenerates from a fragment of the vascular system in around 2 weeks after amputation. In this chapter, we present protocols to collect B. anceps colonies, confirm their species, breed them in the lab, monitor WBR and perform histological staining on cryosections.

Keywords: Botrylloides anceps; Chordate; DNA barcoding; Histological section; Vascular budding; Whole-body regeneration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Phylogeny
Research
Urochordata*