The Biology of Ascidians (Hardcover)

1. Fertilization and Egg Activation.- Structural and Molecular Investigations on the Egg Coat in Phallusia mammillata.- Analysis of the Self-sterility in Halocynthia roretzi.- Further Observations on the Molecular Bases of Gamete Self-discrimination in Ciona intestinalis: Seasonal Variation of Self-sterility Rate.- Self-nonself Recognition and Lysin System in Fertilization of the Ascidian Halocynthia roretzi.- Fertilization-induced Glycosidase Release and Interspecific Sperm Competition in Ascidians.- Cell Signaling in Ascidian Sperm: Upstream and Downstream of Internal Calcium Release.- Sperm-triggered Calcium Oscillations at Fertilization.- Diversity of Calcium Channels Involved in Meiosis Resumption of Ascidian Oocytes.- Ascidian Sperm Acrosin and Spermosin: Structures and Roles in Fertilization.- Acrosome Differentiation in Ciona intestinalis Spermatozoa and Some Speculations on Ascidian Fertilization.- Follicle Cells of Styela plicata Eggs (Ascidiacea).- High Level of Protein Ubiquitination in Ascidian Sperm.- Calcium Transients Signal Ooplasmic Segregation through the Small GTPase rho in Ascidian Eggs.- Cell Signalings for Activation of Motility and Chemotaxis in the Sperm of Ciona.- Roles of MLCK and PI3 Kinase on Deformation and Ooplasmic Segregation at Fertilization in the Egg of Ciona savignyi.- Identification of Phallusia mammillata Egg ?-N-Acetylhexosaminidase with a Potential Role in Prevention of Polyspermy.- The "Complex" Ascidiosperm of Aplousobranchs.- 2. Reproductive Biology and Neuroscience.- The Origin of Germ Cells in Ciona intestinalis.- Oocyte Maturation and Self-sterility by Treatment with Ovary Extracts of the Ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi.- Induction of Gamete Release by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) in Ciona intestinalis.- Light Regulated GnRH Neurons in Biological Clock for Reproduction in the Ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi.- Tailbud Embryogenesis and the Development of the Neurohypophysis in the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis.- The Peripheral Nervous System of an Ascidian Revealed by AChE Activity.- Heterotrimeric G Protein ? and ? Subunit Genes of the Ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi.- Photoresponse and Habituation of Swimming Behavior of Ascidian Larvae, Ciona intestinalis.- Multiple cis-Regulatory Regions Control Neuronal Gene Expression of Synaptotagmin in Ascidian Embryos.- 3. Development, Differentiation, and Evolution.- Maternal Genetic Information Stored in Fertilized Eggs of the Ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi.- RNA-binding Proteins in Ascidian Development.- Functional Analysis of Ciona intestinalis Y-Box Protein.- Ci-sna cis-Regulation of Ascidian Tail Muscle Genes.- T-box Genes and the Development of Axial Tissues in Ciona intestinalis.- Cloning and Embryonic Expression of HrzicN, a Zic Family Gene of the Ascidian Halocynthia roretzi.- Analysis of a cis-Regulatory Element of Hroth, the Ascidian Homologue of the otx Genes, That Drives Its Transcription in the Anterior Larval Central Nervous System of the Ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi.- Comparison of the Structure and Expression of otx Genes between Ciona intestinalis and Halocynthia roretzi.- Phylogeny of the Urochordates: Implications for Chordate Evolution.- Evolution of Anural Developmemt in Ascidians: Roles of Muscle-Specific Differentiation Genes.- Maximum Direct Development and the Ascidiotypic Stage.- The Origin of the Neural Crest and Insights into Evolution of the Vertebrate Face.- Participation of Neurotransmitters and Adrenergic Receptor in the Metamorphosis of Ascidian Larvae.- 4. Taxonomy and Ecology.- A Global Overview of Ascidian Introductions and Their Possible Impact on the Endemic Fauna.- Settlement and Metamorphosis of the Tropical Ascidian Herdmania curvata.- Ascidians in Brazil: The State of the art of Research in Taxonomy, Ecology and Natural Products.- The Biological Substratum Eudistoma carolinense Van Name, 1945 in the Beach Itapema do Norte, Santa Catarina, Brazil.- Ascidians of South Africa: A Historical Pers