4 Symmetry Breaking in the Zygotes of the Fucoid Algae: Controversies and Recent Progress

Kenneth R. Robinson, Michele Wozniak, Rongsun Pu, Mark Messerli

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30 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter presents a discussion of symmetry breaking in the zygotes of the fucoid algae. Despite its many advantages as an experimental system for the study of the epigenesis of polarity, it is obvious that the fucoid zygote also presents many problems. The development of polarity proceeds largely independently of direct gene action and thus may be considered a problem in cellular physiology. Ca2+ appears to play an important role in the process, but the optical properties of the zygotes (opacity and autofluorescence) hamper the use of modern methods of visualizing the distribution of Ca2+ and other ions. Another problem concerns the use of different species and genera. This may be unavoidable—for example, people who are land-locked tend to rely on Pelvetin as it travels and stores better than the various species of Fucus and is less seasonal. The area of greatest disagreement, perhaps, concerns the mechanism of polarity formation, as opposed to its overt manifestation, germination. Despite these difficulties, the fucoid zygotes are likely to continue to be an important experimental system. Technology, including the development of more specific inhibitory reagents, may allow some of the shortcomings of the system to be overcome, and careful consideration of experimental conditions may resolve some of the points of disagreement.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)101-120
Number of pages20
JournalCurrent Topics in Developmental Biology
Volume44
Issue numberC
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1998

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