Aglantha digitale transcriptome

The Pacific hydromedusa Aglantha is an important model organism to study earlier stages of the evolution and organization of neural circuits and behavior. However, nothing is known about the molecular organization of this organism. Here, using pyrosequencing approach we initiated transcriptome analysis of this emerging model. Specifically, we developed a reduced representation sequencing method that can detect low abundant transcripts. Our method greatly reduces the amount of sequencing with more accurate quantification. Basically, sequential addition of adaptors paired with controlled digestion of cDNA generates a one transcript on read type of analysis. Combined 5’ with 3’ targeted libraries produces greater coverage of individual transcripts and high quality assembly. Our initial analysis allowed us to identify more than 2,000 of novel transcripts including many components of signal transduction pathways essential for future analysis of molecular bases of neuronal functions in this model organism