Non-centrosomal microtubule structures regulated by egg activation signaling contribute to cytoplasmic and cortical reorganization in the ascidian egg.

In the first ascidian cell cycle, cytoplasmic and cortical reorganization is required for distributing maternal factors to their appropriate positions, resulting in the formation of the embryonic axis. This cytoplasmic reorganization is considered to depend on the cortical microfilament network in the first phase and on the sperm astral microtubule (MT) in the second phase. Recently, we described three novel MT structures: a deeply extended MT meshwork (DEM) in the entire subcortical region of the unfertilized egg, transiently accumulated MT fragments (TAF) in the vegetal pole, and a cortical MT array in the posterior vegetal cortex (CAMP). Particularly, our previous study showed CAMP to contribute to the movement of myoplasm. In addition, it is very similar to the parallel MT array, which appears during cortical rotation in Xenopus eggs. However, how these MT structures are organized is still unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship between the egg activation pathway and MT structures during the first ascidian cell cycle. First, we carefully analyzed cell cycle progression through meiosis I and II and the first mitosis, and successfully established a standard time table of cell cycle events. Using this time table as a reference, we precisely described the behavior of novel MT structures and revealed that it was closely correlated with cell cycle events. Moreover, pharmacological experiments supported the relationship between these MT structures and the signal transduction mechanisms that begin after fertilization, including Ca2+ signaling, MPF signaling, and MEK/MAPK signaling. Especially, CAMP formation was directed by activities of cyclin-dependent kinases. As these MT structures are conserved, at least, within chordate group, we emphasize the importance of understanding the controlling mechanisms of MT dynamics, which is important for embryonic axis determination in the ascidian egg.

Actin Filament in the First Cell Cycle Contributes to the Determination of the Anteroposterior Axis in Ascidian Development.

In many animal species, the body axis is determined by the relocalization of maternal determinants, organelles, or unique cell populations in a cytoskeleton-dependent manner. In the ascidian first cell cycle, the myoplasm, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and maternal mRNAs, move to the future posterior side concomitantly (called ooplasmic segregation or cytoplasmic and cortical reorganization). This translocation consists of first and second phases depending on the actin and microtubule, respectively. However, the transition from first to second phase, that is, translocation of myoplasmic components from microfilaments to microtubules, has been poorly investigated. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between these cytoskeletons and myoplasmic components during the first cell cycle and their role in morphogenesis by inhibitor experiments. Owing to our improved visualization techniques, there was unexpected F-actin accumulation at the vegetal pole during this transition period. When this F-actin was depolymerized, the microtubule structure was strongly affected, the myoplasmic components, including maternal mRNA, were mislocalized, and the anteroposterior axis formation was disordered. These results suggested the importance of F-actin during the first cell cycle and the existence of interactions between microfilaments and microtubules, implying the enigmatic mechanism of ooplasmic segregation. Solving this mystery leads us to an improved understanding of ascidian early development.

The first asymmetric Sonogashira coupling for the enantioselective generation of planar chirality in paracyclophanes.

The double Sonogashira coupling of diiodoparacyclophanes with alkynes proceeded to give planarly chiral dialkynylparacyclophanes; a chiral Pd catalyst, which was prepared in situ from PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) and Taniaphos, realized the first asymmetric Sonogashira coupling with up to ca. 80% ee.

Enantioselective synthesis of planar-chiral 1,n-dioxa[n]paracyclophanes via catalytic asymmetric ortho-lithiation.

Highly enantioselective ortho-lithiation and dilithiation of 1,n-dioxa[n]paracyclophanes were realized with the use of sec-butyllithium and a catalytic or stoichiometric amount of sparteine. Quenching with various electrophiles, such as iodine, iodomethane, and chlorodiphenylphosphine, afforded chiral mono- and disubstituted paracyclophanes with good to excellent ee.

Enantioselective intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of enediynes for the synthesis of chiral cyclohexa-1,3-dienes.

The enantioselective intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of various enediynes, where two acetylenic moieties are connected by a trans-olefinic moiety, gave chiral tricyclic cyclohexa-1,3-dienes using Rh-H8-BINAP catalyst. In the case of carbon-atom-tethered enediynes, enantioselectivity was generally good-to-high regardless of the substituents on their alkyne termini. In contrast, with heteroatom-tethered enediynes, appropriate substituents were required to induce the oxidative coupling of alkyne and alkene moieties before that of two alkyne moieties, which would be important for highly enantioselective intramolecular cycloaddition.