Maurice R. Elphick

Functional characterisation of neuropeptides that act as ligands for both calcitonin-type and pigment-dispersing factor-type receptors in a deuterostome

This paper identifies CT-type neuropeptides in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus that act as ligands for both CTR/CLR-type and PDF-type receptors, showing differential signaling and physiological roles in feeding and growth.

A feather star is born: embryonic development and nervous system organization in the crinoid Antedon mediterranea

This paper establishes A. mediterranea as an experimental system for developmental biology by developing in vitro culturing methods and characterizing its nervous system development.

The development and neuronal complexity of bipinnaria larvae of the sea star Asterias rubens

This study analyzes the embryonic development and anatomy of bipinnaria larvae in Asterias rubens, revealing three centers of neuronal complexity and providing insights into evolutionary conservation.

Urbilaterian origin and evolution of sNPF-type neuropeptide signalling

The paper identifies an sNPF-type neuropeptide ligand in a deuterostome, showing its evolutionary origin in Urbilateria and loss in echinoderms.

Discovery of novel representatives of bilaterian neuropeptide families and reconstruction of neuropeptide precursor evolution in ophiuroid echinoderms

The paper identifies novel neuropeptide precursors in brittle stars and analyzes their evolutionary changes over 270 million years.