Expression of a single prominin homolog in the embryo of the model chordate Ciona intestinalis

•Characterization of a novel ascidian photoreceptor cell marker.•Identification of one prominin homolog in the C. intestinalis genome, Ci-prom1/2.•Ci-prom1/2 is a pentatransmembrane glycoprotein, similar to mammalian prominins.•Expression profile of Ci-prom1/2 during photoreceptor differentiation.•Isolation of Ci-prom1/2 cis-regulatory region. Prominins are a family of pentaspan transmembrane glycoproteins, expressed in various types of cells, including stem and cancer stem cells in mammals. Prominin-1 is critical in generating and maintaining the structure of the photoreceptors in the eye since mutations in the PROM1 gene are associated with retinal and macular degeneration in human. In this study, we identified a single prominin homolog, Ci-prom1/2, in the model chordate the ascidian Ciona intestinalis and characterized Ci-prom1/2 expression profile in relation to photoreceptor differentiation during Ciona embryonic development. In situ hybridization experiments show Ci-prom1/2 transcripts localized in the developing central nervous system, predominantly in photoreceptor cell precursors as early as neurula stage and expression is maintained through larva stage in photoreceptor cells around the simple eye. We also isolated the regulatory region responsible for the specific spatio-temporal expression of the Ci-prom1/2 in photoreceptor cell lineage. Collectively, we report that Ci-prom1/2 is a novel molecular marker for ascidian photoreceptor cells and might represent a potential source to enlarge the knowledge about the function of prominin family in photoreceptor cell evolution and development.