Figure 9.

Sequence and expression analysis of Has-vm2. (A) A schematic representation of the conceptually derived Has-vm2 protein. A putative signal peptide followed by 5 residues precede 20 proline-rich motifs. Identical motifs are indicated by boxes of the same colour. (B) The putative full length 1051 bp Has-vm2 transcript encodes an ORF of 319 residues, with two predicted glycosylated threonine residues. Primers used to assess temporal expression are boxed. (C) When the 20 proline-rich motifs are aligned, conserved Leu, Pro, Ser, Ile, Val, Glu and positively charged (Arg and Lys) residues are revealed. Residues are shaded black where more than 50% of the residues are identical, and grey where biochemical similarity is shared with the consensus residue. Numbers to the left indicate amino acid position within the proprotein. (D) Has-vm2 expression is initially detected in a continuous pattern along the mantle of competent veligers. (E) Expression of Has-vm2 within the mantle of 1 mm juveniles is restricted to the anterior edge of the outer mantle fold. A characteristic triplet of cells (inset) is detected within individuals of this size making the basal nuclei visible (*). (F) A magnified view of the boxed region in E. A characteristic dot and dash expression of Has-vm2 within the anterior edge of the outer fold (aeof) is present at this stage of development. The inner fold (if) and anterior edge of the outer fold (aeof) of the mantle is indicated. (G) The dot and dash expression of Has-vm2 within 1 mm juveniles eventually merges to become a continuous band of expression along the anterior edge of the outer fold (aeof) of 5 mm juveniles.