Hiroki Takahashi

TL;DR: This study made the standard web‐based image resource called FABA: Four‐dimensional Ascidian Body Atlas including ascidian's three‐dimensional (3D) and cross‐sectional images through the developmental time course, which will be helpful in standardizing developmental stages for morphology comparison as well as for providing the guideline for several functional studies of a body plan in chordate.

TL;DR: Xenopus prickle (Xpk), a Xenopus homolog of a Drosophila PCP gene, is an essential component for gastrulation cell movement and is demonstrated that XPK binds to Xenopus Dsh as well as to JNK.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of the notochord over the course of chordate evolution with a special emphasis on a member of T-box gene family, Brachyury.

TL;DR: It has been revealed that the ascidian genome contains the basic ancestral complement of genes involved in development, and the Ciona intestinalis draft genome contains a single copy gene for each of the Brachyury, Tbx1/10,Tbx15/18/22, T bx20, TBx2/3, and Tbr/Eomes/TBX21 groups, and at least three copies of the TbX6 subfamily.

TL;DR: A knowledge database called “CINOBI: CionaNotochord and Brachyury‐downstream gene Index” is developed to create comprehensive catalogues of Brachyuries downstream gene sets in Ciona intestinalis to understand the function of Brachesury‐ downstream genes in chordate embryos.