A Database for Comparative Analysis of Tunicate Promoter Sequences

Tunicates are lower chordates that include among others the two ascidians Ciona intestinalis and Ciona savignyi. This subphylum is particularly interesting because it shares many developmental and physiological characteristics, as well as basic gene repertoires, with vertebrates [1,2]. A fertilized ascidian egg develops within a day in a transparent tadpole-like larva having a body plan similar to its vertebrate counterpart [2]. The availability of a well-established cell-lineage [3,4] and of simple and efficient molecular biology techniques such as transient transgenesis and electroporation has made of these organisms a favored tool to elucidate the genetic regulatory systems underlying the developmental and physiological processes of vertebrates. With the recent release of the C. intestinalis and C. savignyi genomes, numerous genes have been identified. In order to understand the regulation of those genes, a database was created containing information on regulation of tunicate genes collected from literature, as well as predicted binding sited for the identified transcription factors.