Dr. Enrico D'Aniello, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy
Dr. Enrico D'Aniello, senior researcher in the Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, will present: "The Bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis as a New Model for Eco-Evo-Devo Studies"
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The main focus of the lab is the study of the mechanisms underlying proper embryonic development. To address these questions, we employ two model systems: the tunicate Ciona robusta and the mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis. A central research interest of the lab concerns the mechanisms of action of retinoic acid (RA) and its derivatives, which play essential roles during embryogenesis and throughout adult life in Metazoans. In C. robusta, due to the high conservation with vertebrates of key genes involved in cardiac and pharyngeal cell specification and differentiation, we are particularly focused on determining the requirements and role of RA signalling in the proper development of the heart and pharyngeal structures during embryogenesis. In Mytilus galloprovincialis, by contrast, we explore a different question. Although RA signalling has been extensively studied in vertebrates, very little is known about its function in invertebrates, particularly in protostomes. While molluscs appear capable of producing retinoic acid (RA), it remains unclear whether this molecule is required for proper development, and whether retinoic acid receptors (RARs) mediate signal transduction through a canonical transcriptional mechanism similar to that observed in vertebrates. Our aim is therefore to clarify the evolutionary requirements of RA signalling by investigating its function during M. galloprovincialis development and elucidating the underlying molecular and transcriptional mechanisms.
Another focus of the lab is the study of mechanisms that regulate embryonic development and gene expression independently of genetic factors. In particular, we investigate the role of DNA methylation in marine invertebrates, whose embryos develop fully exposed to the external environment. In many invertebrates, DNA methylation occurs in a sparse, mosaic pattern, targeting primarily gene bodies and transposable elements. Its functional significance, however, remains poorly understood. This contrasts with vertebrates, where CpG methylation is widespread across the genome and plays a well-characterised role in regulating development and cellular identity. We are therefore investigating the specific role of DNA methylation in M. galloprovincialis. We believe that understanding this mechanism will lay the groundwork for exploring cause–effect relationships between environmental factors and subsequent epigenetic modifications, providing insight into how these modifications promote acclimatory responses in organisms.
Additional projects in the lab are related to:
• Characterisation of the mechanisms underlying sex determination in mussels
• Single-cell analyses in Mytilus galloprovincialis trochophore larvae
• Identification of conserved and novel microRNAs during different developmental stages of Mytilus galloprovincialis
• Identification of secondary metabolites from the invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea and their role in inhibiting attachment and metamorphosis of Ciona robusta
