Fig. 8.

Summary of transcription factor expression patterns in Ciona and Molgula. Comparison of transcription factor expression patterns in the developing MG of Ciona robusta and Molgula occidentalis, summarizing the findings of the current study. C. robusta patterns are from references [10, 11, 35]. Gene expression domains during the early patterning of MG progenitors at the mid-tailbud stage are indicated by colored bars. MG neuron subtype-specific gene expression (ddN, IN1, MN1, IN2, MN2) indicated below. Dashed lines represent additional cell divisions before final specification and differentiation of ddN and IN1, which were resolved in C. robusta but not in M. occidentalis. The major differences observed in M. occidentalis are: early expression of Dmbx in A11.120 and Vsx in A11.119, and broader expression of Lhx3/4.a relative to Lhx3/4 in C. robusta