Gene Expression, DNA Synthesis and Protein Synthesis in Cells from Dissociated Sea Urchin Embryos: (gene expression/sea urchins/cell interactions).

DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and the accumulation of two tissue-specific transcripts were examined in cultures of sea urchin embryos that were completely dissociated during early cleavage stages and raised in Ca -free sea water for 24 hr. In Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, both DNA and protein synthesis were severely reduced by dissociation treatment. Previous studies using this species indicated that aboral ectoderm-specific transcript accumulation is severely reduced while mesenchyme-specific transcripts generally accumulate more normally (11, 17).