Leslie S. Babonis

Regression of juvenile tentacles is driven by loss of cell proliferation in Haliclystus sanjuanensis, a cnidarian with limited metamorphosis

The paper shows that loss of cell proliferation in primary tentacles drives their regression in H. sanjuanensis, while proliferative cells are gained in developing secondary tentacles and anchors, indicating a shift from juvenile to adult tissue investment.

Extreme conservation of cnidarian stinging cell identity despite 600 million years of evolution

The paper shows that cnidarian stinging cells, specifically spirocytes, are highly conserved over 600 million years, while nematocytes show more diversification, controlled by the FoxL2 gene.

Evolutionary rewiring of an ancient gene regulatory network specifies secretory cells in stony corals

The paper identifies an evolutionary rewired gene regulatory network in stony corals that specifies secretory cells, using chromatin profiling and transcriptomics in Astrangia poculata.

Novel cell and tissue dynamics drive the unusual biology of the catch tentacle, an inducible organ of aggression found in the sea anemone Metridium senile

The paper compares feeding and catch tentacles in two sea anemone species to show how catch tentacles achieve their unique aggressive function through distinct cell and tissue dynamics.

Morphological and functional characterization of the ptychocyte, a stingless stinging cell

The paper characterizes the morphology and function of ptychocytes in Ceriantheopsis americana, finding they have sensory structures and slower discharge kinetics compared to nematocytes in Nematostella vectensis.

Microinjection, gene knockdown, and CRISPR-mediated gene knock-in in the hard coral, Astrangia poculata

This study develops gene manipulation tools in the coral Astrangia poculata, enabling functional studies of development and regeneration.

A novel in vivo system to study coral biomineralization in the starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis)

This paper develops a transgenic system in Nematostella vectensis to study coral biomineralization by expressing and analyzing coral-derived proteins.

A novel regulatory gene promotes novel cell fate by suppressing ancestral fate in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

The paper shows a regulatory gene promotes cnidocyte development by suppressing neural fate in sea anemones.