Normal development and embryonic gene activity of the ascidian Herdmania momus

Embryonic and post-larval development of the tropical solitary ascidian Herdmania momus is shown to be similar to that of extensively studied ascidian model systems. H. momus development is rapid and temperature-dependent, with hatching occurring 8.5 h after fertilization at 28 degrees C. An increase in total embryonic gene transcription is detected at the 110-cell stage or the onset of gastrulation. Treatment of early embryos with actinomycin D inhibits transcription and curtails morphogenetic cell movement in the early gastrula without immediately inhibiting cell division. The prevalence of homeobox-containing transcripts increases around the 110-cell stage and later in development. Isolated H. momus homeobox genes, expressed at the tailbud stage, have greatest sequence identity to members of Hox, otd/Otx, eve/Evx and cad/Cdx homeobox classes. Evidence from H. momus and other ascidians suggests that urochordates possess most of the homeobox genes of the chordate HOX cluster.