Laboratory for Development and Evolution

Department of Zoology

Dr Carlo Brena

Dr Carlo Brena Postdoctoral Research Associate

Tel: + 44 (0) 1223 331772/3
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 337766

cb508@cam.ac.uk

Interests and research

Are key steps in animal evolution and development, such as segmentation and pattern formation, homologous across taxa? How many degrees of freedom do those processes have in producing similar structures? More specifically, how could those processes have been achieved in the first arthropods, promoting the following extraordinary radiation?

Embryo of S. maritima, whole mount, Sybr Green nuclear stainingTo address these - and other - questions, I'm studying the development of the centipede Strigamia maritima, with a specific attention to the segmentation process, both from a developmental and molecular (early patterning and segmentation genes in particular) point of view. I have been specifically working on establishing it as a model system –and collaborating on the sequencing of its genome (as the first myriapod)- because of its wonderfully readable embryos, its “basal” phylogenetic position among the arthropods and its simple yet extended segmentation.

Flat mounted anterior embryo of S. maritima embryo. Blue: DAPI nuclear staining, red: Delta in situ

Publications

Brena, C. and M. Akam, The embryonic development of the centipede Strigamia maritima. Developmental Biology, in press.

  • Saadaoui, M., S. Merabet, I. Litim, E. Arbeille, W. Damen, C. Brena, J. Pradel & Y. Graba. Selection of distinct Hox-PBC interaction modes fine-tunes Hox protein activity, 2011. PNAS, 108(6): 2276-81.
  • Steinmetz, P.R.H., R. Urbach, N. Posnien, J. Eriksson, R. Kostyuchenko, C. Brena, K. Guy, Michael Akam, G. Bucher and D. Arendt, 2010. Six3 demarcates the anterior-most developing brain region in bilaterian animals. EvoDevo, 1(1): 14.
  • Vedel, V., Z. Apostolou, W. Arthur, M. Akam, and C. Brena. 2010. An early temperature-sensitive period for the plasticity of segment number in the centipede Strigamia maritima. Evolution & Development,12: 347-352.
  • Vedel, V., C. Brena, and W. Arthur. 2009. Demonstration of a heritable component of the variation in segment number in the centipede Strigamia maritima. Evolution & Development, 11: 434-440.
  • Minelli, A, C. Brena, G. Deflorian, D. Maruzzo & G. Fusco, 2006. From Embryo to Adult – Beyond the Conventional Periodization of Arthropod Development. Development, Genes & Evolution, 216: 373-383.
  • Brena, C., A. Chipman, A. Minelli & M. Akam, 2006. The expression of trunk Hox genes in the centipede Strigamia maritima: sense and antisense transcripts. Evolution & Development, 8 (3): 252-265.
  • Brena, C., P. Z. Liu, A. Minelli & T. C. Kaufman, 2005. Abd-B expression in Porcellio scaber Latreille, 1804 (Isopoda, Crustacea): conserved pattern vs. novel roles in development and evolution. Evolution & Development, 7 (1): 42-50.
  • Maruzzo D., L. Bonato, C. Brena, G. Fusco & A. Minelli, 2005. Appendage loss and regeneration in arthropods: a comparative view. In: Koenemann S. & Jenner R. (eds), Crustacea and Arthropod Relationships; Crustacean Issues 16 (Festschrift for Frederick R. Schram). Boca Raton, CRC Press, 440 pp, pp.: 215-245.
  • Martinucci, GB., C. Brena, F. Cima & P. Burighel, 2005. The appendicularian alimentary tract: a comparative study. In: Gorsky, G., Youngbluth, M.J. and Deibel, D. (eds.), Response of marine ecosystems to global change: Ecological impact of appendicularians. GB Scientific Publisher, Paris, pp.: 113-123.
  • Cima, F., C. Brena, P. Burighel, 2005. The appendicularian alimentary tract: a comparative study. In: Gorsky, G., Youngbluth, M.J. and Deibel, D. (eds.), Response of marine ecosystems to global change: Ecological impact of appendicularians. GB Scientific Publisher, Paris, pp.: 149-159.
  • Brena, C., F. Cima, GB. Martinucci & P. Burighel, 2005. The appendicularian alimentary tract: a comparative study. In: Gorsky, G., Youngbluth, M.J. and Deibel, D. (eds.), Response of marine ecosystems to global change: Ecological impact of appendicularians. GB Scientific Publisher, Paris, pp.: 161-170.
  • Brena, C., F. Cima & P. Burighel, 2003. Alimentary Tract of Kowalevskiidae (Appendicularia, Tunicata) and Evolutionary Implications, Journal of Morphology, 258 (2): 225-238.
  • Brena, C., F. Cima & P. Burighel, 2003. The Exceptional “Blind” Gut of Appendicularia sicula (Appendicularia, Tunicata), Zoologischer Anzeiger, 242 (2): 169-177.
  • Brena, C., F. Cima & P. Burighel, 2003. The highly specialised gut of Fritillariidae (Appendicularia, Tunicata) Marine Biology. 143: 57-71.
  • Cima, F., C. Brena & P. Burighel, 2002. Multifarious activities of gut epithelium in an appendicularian (Tunicata). Marine Biology, 141: 479-490.
  • Burighel, P., Brena, C., Martinucci, G.B. & Cima, F. (2001). Gut ultrastructure of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica (Tunicata). Invertebrate Biology, 120: 278-293.
  • Fusco G., Brena C. & Minelli A., 2000. Cellular processes in the growth of lithobiomorph centipedes (Chilopoda: Lithobiomorpha). A cuticular view. Zoologischer Anzeiger 239: 91-102.


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