TGF-β signaling molecules in : role of BMP and BMP inhibitors during pattern formation.

Understanding the evolution of body plans has been one of the major areas of investigation in developmental and evolutionary biology. Cnidaria, the sister group to bilaterians, provides an opportunity to elucidate the origin and evolution of body axes. , a freshwater cnidarian, is a useful model to study signaling pathways governing pattern formation, which are conserved up to vertebrates including humans.

Differential expression of BMP inhibitors gremlin and noggin in Hydra suggests distinct roles during budding and patterning of tentacles.

Background: Mechanisms regulating BMP and Wnt pathways and their interactions are not well studied in Hydra.

Results: We report identification of BMP inhibitor gremlin, comparison of its expression with that of noggin and possible antagonism between Wnt and BMP signaling in Hydra. Gremlin is expressed in body column with high levels in budding region and in early buds.

Comparative analysis of β-hexosaminidase and acid phosphatase from Hydra vulgaris Ind-Pune, H. vulgaris Naukuchiatal and H. magnipapillata sf-1: Localization studies of acid phosphatase and β-hexosaminidase from H. vulgaris Ind-Pune.

The present report describes a comprehensive study on comparative biochemical characterization of two lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and β-hexosaminidase in three different strains of Hydra; Hydra vulgaris Ind-Pune, H. vulgaris Naukuchiatal and H. magnipapillata sf-1 (self-feeder-1).

Mannose 6-phosphate-dependent lysosomal enzyme targeting in hydra: a biochemical, immunological and structural elucidation.

Mannose 6-phosphate (M6P)-dependent lysosomal enzyme targeting to endosome/lysosome complex is poorly understood among lower invertebrates. So far, only a M6P-independent lysosomal enzyme sorting protein, named LERP, has been described in Drosophila. Here, we have identified mannose 6-phosphate receptor (MPR) homologues in Hydra vulgaris, a basal Cnidarian, at genome level and further purified a cation-dependent MPR-like protein from hydra using affinity chromatography.

UV induced foot duplication in regenerating hydra is mediated by metalloproteinases and modulation of the Wnt pathway.

We have shown earlier that irradiation with UV induces duplication of foot in regenerating middle pieces of hydra. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the underlying mechanism(s) leading to this curious phenomenon. UV irradiation induced duplicated foot in about 30% of regenerating middle pieces.

AECHL-1, a novel triterpenoid, targets tumor neo-vasculature and impairs the endothelial cell cytoskeleton.

Tumor angiogenesis is characterized by abnormal vessel morphology leading to erratic and insufficient delivery of chemotherapeutics and oxygen, making the tumor core not only highly hypoxic but also unresponsive toward treatment. Such hypoxic conditions promote tumor aggressiveness, leading to the establishment of metastatic disease. Most anti-angiogenic treatments aim toward the destruction of tumor vasculature, which proves countereffective by further increasing its aggressive nature.

Identification and characterization of VEGF and FGF from Hydra.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) play important roles in the formation of the blood vascular system and in axon guidance, nervous system development and function. Here, we report isolation and characterization of VEGF and FGF homologues from Hydra vulgaris Ind-Pune, a Cnidarian which exhibits an organized nervous system and primitive epithelio-muscular cells. VEGF expression was prominent in the endoderm of the peduncle region and tentacles, as evident from in situ hybridization of whole polyps and its transverse sections.