What's New (Archives)


  • March, 2024
    • The following vectors have been added to our project. We look forward to your request!
    • Expression vectors for the transcription factor POUIV (or Pou4f).
    • Reporter constructs having the basal promoter of friend of GATA (or ZFPM) gene.
    • Codon optimized transposase cDNA of Minos.
  • December, 2023
    • The review article about the functions of nervous systems and hormones in the metamorphosis and adults of Ciona has been published. Photographs of NBRP marker lines of nervous systems are used. Click here for details.
  • November, 2023
    • The manuscript about the functions of Ciona CatSper protein in the sperm has been published. In this manuscript, CatSper was knocked out by Crispr/Cas9. Click here for details.
  • November, 2023
    • The manuscript describing the migration of the mesenchymal cells into the tunic during metamorphosis has been published. These mesenchymal cells become tunic cells at the adult stage. In this manuscript, the transgenic line expressing Kaede in the mesenchyme was used. Click here for details.
  • March, 2023
    • The manuscript investigating the regulation of the cleavage number during Ciona embryogenesis has been published. NBRP plasmids were used to overexpress genes. Click here for details.
      New transgenic lines and plasmid vectors have been added in our project. We are waiting for your request.
    • Genome editing constructs for mutating a gene encoding serine racemase.
    • Expression vectors for dominant-negative Sar1.
    • Reporter constructs.
  • February, 2023
    • The methods of genome editing in Ciona using CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN have been reported. NBRP provides expression vectors for genome editing. We appreciate your requests. Click here for details.
  • December, 2022
    • Our plasmid vector for genome editing was used for analyzing gene functions in Starfish. Our resources are always open for the use in organisms other than Ciona. Click here for details.
  • October, 2022
    • The transcription factors responsible for the formation of endostyle (the organ suggested to be homologous to vertebrate thyroid gland) were reported. Our knockout vectors were used in this study. Click here for details.
  • July, 2022
    • Ciona exhibits metamorphosis after adhesion to substrates with its adhesive organ. The mechanism sensing the mechanical stimuli generated by adhesion, and PKD2 homolog that is involved in this process were reported. Our transgenic lines, reporter constructs and knockout vectors were used in this study. Click here for details.
  • March, 2022
    • Functions of D-serine and serine racemase in Ciona was reported. Our reporter constructs and knockout vectors were used in this study. Click here for details.
  • March, 2022
  • March, 2022
    • New transgenic lines and plasmid vectors have been added in our project. We are waiting for your request.
    • Transgenic lines labeling gnrh neurons with Kaede.
    • Transgenic line labeling Vasopressin neurons with Venus.
    • Genome editing constructs for mutating GABA related genes.
    • Genome editing constructs for mutating a gene encoding enzyme necessary for peptide hormone maturation.
    • Genome editing constructs for mutating gnrh and vasopressin genes.
  • January, 2022
    • Functions of POUIV transcription factor for specifying epidermal sensory neurons have been revealed. In this report, NBRP transgenic lines expressing Kaede in the mature neurons were used. Click here for details.
  • October, 2021
    • Our plasmid vector for genome editing was used for analyzing gene functions in Starfish. Our resources are always open for the use in organisms other than Ciona. Click here for details.
  • July, 2021
    • The method culturing Ciona in a small aquarium was added on Protocol page.
  • June, 2021
    • Functions of the peptide hormone vasopressin in the maturation of ovary have been reported. In this report, many NBRP resources were used. Click here for details.
  • March, 2021
  • March, 2021
    • We have started offering of the transgenic lines expressing GCaMP8 in the nervous systems at both larval and adult stages. We are waiting for your request.
  • March, 2021
    • TALEN vectors that target Hox13 were deposited into our project. Moreover, the basic vectors that makes the fusion of an arbitral ORF and a fluorescent protein gene were also added.
  • September, 2020
    • The manuscript that describes morphogenetic movement of cells during tail regression in Ciona was published. In this manuscript, our vectors for knockout and expression of fluorescent proteins were used. This manuscript used the transgenic lines expressing Kaede photoconvertible protein in larval epidermis. This line will be deposited into NBRP soon. Click here for details.
  • April, 2020
    • The manuscript that describes neuronal circuit regulating metamorphosis of Ciona was published. The neurotransmitter GABA induces the whole events of metamorphosis, while gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) induces tail regression as a downstream factor of GABA. In this study, many TALEN and reporter gene expression vectors of this NBRP project were used. In addition, our mutant line, tail regression failed (trf) was analyzed, to find that the causative gene of this mutant encodes prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), which is the peptidase necessary for the maturation of peptide hormones. Click here for details.
  • March, 2020
  • February, 2020
    • The manuscript that describes adult peptidergic neurons in Ciona was published. In this manuscript, the NBRP transgenic lines expressing Kaede fluorescent protein in the neurons were used. Click here for details.
  • February, 2020
    • The manuscript that describes the role of Hox13 in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis has been published. Hox13 is essential for the formation of orange-pigmented organ at the terminus of spermiduct. In this study, many TALEN and reporter gene expression vectors of this NBRP project were used. In addition, the transgenic lines that recapitulate expression pattern of Hox13 has been deposited in the NBRP. Click here for details.
  • December, 2019
    • Ciona larva possesses less than 200 neurons. With the simple nervous system, the larva regulates their swimming behavior in response to light and gravity. The manuscript describing the mechanisms of the regulation was published in Current Biology. In this manuscript, NBRP plasmids that can label specific neuron types were used. Click here for details.
  • March, 2019
  • December, 2018
    • In Spring 2018, the method book that summarized transgenic technologies in ascidians has been published from Springer (Crick here for the webpage: https://www.springer.com/la/book/9789811075445). Many NBRP resources have been introduced in the book. The TALEN-based knockout vector that targets cellulose synthase gene is now available from NBRP! This knockout vector is used for improving WISH at the larval stage.
  • December, 2018
    • In April, 2018, The manuscript that describes the mechanism of the MASK method, the maternally expressed mRNA-specific knockdown in Ciona intestinalis, has been published. Many NBRP transgenic lines were used in this research. Click here for details.
  • September, 2018
    • The manuscript that shows the mechanisms of dopaminergic neuron differentiation in Ciona was published in Genes and Development. Wild type Ciona, NBRP plasmids, and the transgenic line expressing Kaede fluorescent protein specifically in dopamine neurons (Tg[MiCiTHK]2) were used in this study. Moreover, single cell transcriptome analysis was adopted in this study. Click here for details.
  • August, 2018
    • The manuscript that describes the mechanisms of placode and neural crest evolution was published in Nature. Wild type Ciona and plasmids of NBRP were used in this study. Click here for details.
  • May, 2018
  • March, 2018
  • January, 2018
    • We started to provide protocols of the experiments using NBRP resources. We hope the protocols will facilitate your researches with our materials!
    • Strain data was added.
  • December, 2017
  • November, 2017
    • The review about the mechanisms of adult organ/tissue formation and metamorphosis of ascidians was published. Many transgenic lines of NBRP are displayed in the article. Click here for details.
  • October, 2017
  • August, 2017
    • New categories, Fixed Specimen and Genotyping, were added to strain data.
    • Prices of resources were revised. (Refer to Price List for details)
    • We are now charging for Construct distribution. (Refer to Price List for details)
  • June, 2017
    • The axon trajectories of adult Ciona was described. In this report, NBRP the transgenic lines expressing Kaede in the neurons were used. Click here for details.
  • May, 2017
    • The functions of Hox1 in the thyroid-homologous organ (endostyle) were characterized in Ciona. In this report, TALENs for famous developmentally relevant genes like Otx, Hox1, RAR and Raldh2 were created. These TALENs are available from NBRP. Click here for details.
  • April, 2017
  • March, 2017
    • A novel technique to establish Ciona mutant lines has been established. This technique utilizes TALEN-based genome editing and germ cell regeneration. In this report, new vector series that can monitor TALEN expression with the aid of mCherry fluorescence were created, and these vectors are now available from NBRP. Click here for details.
  • December, 2016
    • Evolution of the epidermis-specific expression of the gene encoding cellulose synthase of Ciona intestinalis was investigated with the genome editing technology. This provides a novel insight into the mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer. Click here for details.
  • April, 2016
    • A unique regulation of cell cycle compensation in the epidermal cells of Ciona neurula embryos was described. The regulation is essential for synchronous mitoses during embryogenesis. Many novel DNA constructs were used in this study, which have been added in this database. Click here for details.

  • November, 2015
    • The neuronal map of the central nervous system of Ciona juvenile was described in detail. Many transgenic lines in the NBRP project were used. Moreover, this manuscript provides the first report of the optogenetics in ascidian. Click here for details.
  • July, 2015
    • The function of Hox10 has been revealed in Ciona intestinalis. TALENs and enhancer trap lines of the NBRP were used in this study. Click here for details.
  • January, 2015
    • The international rules of the nomenclature of ascidian genetic resources (including transgenes and transgenic lines) were reported. Click here for details.