A Study of the Effect of Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid on the Embryonic Development and Expression of Genes for the Biosynthesis of Naphthoquinoid Pigments of the Sea Urchins Strongylocentrotus intermedius

The effect of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on the embryonic development of sea urchins Strongylocentrotus intermedius is studied. The extracts of naphthoquinoid pigments isolated from the embryos and larvae of individuals of S. intermedius after exposure to methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid have been qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The expression of polyketide synthase (pks) and sulfotransferase (sult) genes necessary for the biosynthesis of naphthoquinoid pigments in the embryos and larvae at the stages of mesenchymal blastula and gastrula of S. intermedius after incubation with methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid has been studied by the method of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in real time (qRT-PCR). The highest level of expression of the pks and sult genes in the treated embryos and larvae of S. intermedius has been observed at the blastula and gastrula stages.