Dr Chema Martin Duran
Reader in Organismal Biology
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
EvoDevo, Animal embryology, Evolutionary biology, Comparative genomics, Epigenomics
Interests
My research aims to understand how animal embryogenesis works and evolves to eventually produce major phenotypic transitions, such as new modes of gastrulation, different trunk neuroarchitectures and distinct life cycles. My lab applies comparative, interdisciplinary approaches, from genomics and epigenomics to developmental and cellular biology, to investigate how spiral cleavage, an ancestral mode of animal embryogenesis, is controlled and generates phenotypic evolution. To do so, we study multiple species of marine annelid worms, some of which we have established as new tractable research species. In particular, we study how different strategies to specify the first progenitor cells during early embryogenesis (i.e., mosaic and regulative development) emerge and the mechanisms that cause developmental system drift and heterochronic shifts during animal embryogenesis, using the specification of the dorsoventral axis and the formation of the trunk as representative examples, respectively.Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Genomics2024
Combinatorial Wnt signaling landscape during brachiopod anteroposterior patterningVellutini BC, Martín-Durán JM, Børve A and Hejnol A
Bmc Biology vol. 22 (1), 212-212.
19-09-2024
DNA Methylation Carries Signatures of Sublethal Effects Under Thermal Stress in Loggerhead Sea TurtlesYen EC, Gilbert JD, Balard A, Afonso IO, Fairweather K, Newlands D, Lopes A, Correia SM, Taxonera A, Rossiter SJ, Martín‐Durán JM and Eizaguirre C
Evolutionary Applications, Wiley vol. 17 (9), e70013-e70013.
15-09-2024
Annelid methylomes reveal ancestral developmental and aging-associated epigenetic erosion across BilateriaGuynes K, Sarre LA, Carrillo-Baltodano AM, Davies BE, Xu L, Liang Y, Martín-Zamora FM, Hurd PJ, de Mendoza A and Martín-Durán JM
Genome Biology, Springer Nature vol. 25 (1), 204-204.
01-08-2024
The Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project: probing the evolution of symbiosis across the Tree of LifeMcKenna V, Archibald JM, Beinart R, Dawson MN, Hentschel U, Keeling PJ, Lopez JV, Martín-Durán JM, Petersen JM, Sigwart JD, Simakov O, Sutherland KR, Sweet M, Talbot N, Thompson AW, Bender S, Harrison PW, Rajan J, Cochrane G, Berriman M, et al.
Wellcome Open Research, F1000research vol. 6
10-06-2024
Developmental toxicity of pre-production plastic pellets affects a large swathe of invertebrate taxaJimenez-Guri E, Paganos P, La Vecchia C, Annona G, Caccavale F, Molina MD, Ferrández-Roldán A, Donnellan RD, Salatiello F, Johnstone A, Eliso MC, Spagnuolo A, Cañestro C, Albalat R, Martín-Durán JM, Williams EA, D'Aniello E and Arnone MI
Chemosphere, Elsevier vol. 356
05-04-2024
The development of the adult nervous system in the annelid Owenia fusiformisCarrillo-Baltodano AM, Donnellan RD, Williams EA, Jékely G and Martín-Durán JM
Neural Development, Springer Nature vol. 19 (1)
21-02-2024
2023
Emerging trends in functional genomics in SpiraliaMartín-Durán JM
Briefings in Functional Genomics, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 22 (6), 485-486.
17-11-2023
Emerging trends in the study of spiralian larvaeLiang Y, Carrillo-Baltodano AM and Martín-Durán JM
Evolution & Development, Wiley
03-10-2023
Functional genomics in SpiraliaMartín-Zamora FM, Davies BE, Donnellan RD, Guynes K and Martín-Durán JM
Briefings in Functional Genomics, Oxford University Press
09-08-2023
Genomics of Marine Larval Evolution and DevelopmentZakas C and Martín-Durán JM
Integrative and Comparative Biology, Oxford University Press (Oup)
01-08-2023
A dynamic epibiont community associated with the bone-eating polychaete genus OsedaxGoffredi SK, Panossian B, Brzechffa C, Field N, King C, Moggioli G, Rouse GW, Martín-Durán JM and Henry LM
Mbio, American Society For Microbiology vol. 14 (4), e03140-e03122.
29-06-2023
Distinct genomic routes underlie transitions to specialised symbiotic lifestyles in deep-sea annelid wormsMartin Duran J, Henry L, Moggioli G, Panosian B, Sun Y, Thiel D, Martin-Zamora FM, Tran M, Clifford AM, Goffredi S, Rimskaya-Korsakova N, Jekely G, Tresguerres M, Qian P-Y, Qiu J-W and Rouse GR
Nature Communications, Nature Research vol. 14
17-05-2023
The Evolution of Hox Genes in SpiraliaGąsiorowski L, Martín-Durán JM and Hejnol A
In Hox Modules in Evolution and Development, Taylor & Francis 177-194.
16-03-2023
Annelid functional genomics reveal the origins of bilaterian life cyclesMartín-Zamora FM, Liang Y, Guynes K, Carrillo-Baltodano AM, Davies BE, Donnellan RD, Tan Y, Moggioli G, Seudre O, Tran M, Mortimer K, Luscombe NM, Hejnol A, Marletaz F and Martin Duran J
Nature, Springernature
25-01-2023
2022
The Fox Gene Repertoire in the Annelid Owenia fusiformis Reveals Multiple Expansions of the foxQ2 Class in SpiraliaSeudre O, Martín-Zamora FM, Rapisarda V, Luqman I, Carrillo-Baltodano AM and Martín-Durán JM
Genome Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 14 (10)
13-09-2022
ERK1/2 is an ancestral organising signal in spiral cleavageSeudre O, Carrillo-Baltodano AM, Liang Y and Martín-Durán JM
Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 13 (1)
28-04-2022
2021
The Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project: probing the evolution of symbiosis across the tree of lifeMcKenna V, Archibald JM, Beinart R, Dawson MN, Hentschel U, Keeling PJ, Lopez JV, Martín-Durán JM, Petersen JM, Sigwart JD, Simakov O, Sutherland KR, Sweet M, Talbot N, Thompson AW, Bender S, Harrison PW, Rajan J, Cochrane G, Berriman M, et al.
Wellcome Open Research, F1000research vol. 6
06-10-2021
Early embryogenesis and organogenesis in the annelid Owenia fusiformisCarrillo-Baltodano AM, Seudre O, Guynes K and Martín-Durán JM
Evodevo, Springer Nature vol. 12 (1)
10-05-2021
2020
Publisher Correction: Conservative route to genome compaction in a miniature annelid (Nature Ecology & Evolution, (2020), 10.1038/s41559-020-01327-6)Martín-Durán JM, Vellutini BC, Marlétaz F, Cetrangolo V, Cvetesic N, Thiel D, Henriet S, Grau-Bové X, Carrillo-Baltodano AM, Gu W, Kerbl A, Marquez Y, Bekkouche N, Chourrout D, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Irimia M, Lenhard B, Worsaae K and Hejnol A
Nature Ecology and Evolution, Nature Research
25-11-2020
Conservative route to genome compaction in a miniature annelidMartin Duran J, Vellutini BC, Marlétaz F, Cetrangolo V, Cvetesic N, Thiel D, Henriet S, Grau-Bové X, Carrillo-Baltodano AM, Gu W, Kerbl A, Marquez Y, Bekkouche N, Chourrout D, Gómez-Skarmeta JL, Irimia M, Lenhard B, Worsaee K and Hejnol A
Nature Ecology and Evolution, Nature Research
16-11-2020
Unravelling spiral cleavageMartin Duran J and Marletaz F
Development, Company of Biologists
02-01-2020
2019
Kinetochores attached to microtubule-ends are stabilised by astrin bound pp1 to ensure proper chromosome segregationConti D, Gul P, Islam A, Martín-Durán JM, Pickersgill RW and Draviam VM
Elife, Elife Sciences Publications Ltd vol. 8
24-12-2019
A developmental perspective on the evolution of the nervous system.Martín-Durán JM and Hejnol A
Developmental Biology, Elsevier
11-10-2019
EvoChromo: towards a synthesis of chromatin biology and evolution.Drinnenberg IA, Berger F, Elsässer SJ, Andersen PR, Ausió J, Bickmore WA, Blackwell AR, Erwin DH, Gahan JM, Gaut BS, Harvey ZH, Henikoff S, Kao JY, Kurdistani SK, Lemos B, Levine MT, Luger K, Malik HS, Martín-Durán JM, Peichel CL, et al.
Development, The Company of Biologists vol. 146 (19)
26-09-2019
Embryonic expression of priapulid Wnt genesHogvall M, Vellutini BC, Martín-Durán JM, Hejnol A, Budd GE and Janssen R
Development Genes and Evolution, Springer Nature vol. 229 (4), 125-135.
01-07-2019
Introduction: Young Approaches to Animal EvolutionMartín-Durán JM and Vellutini BC
In Old Questions and Young Approaches to Animal Evolution, Springer Nature 1-12.
01-01-2019
2018
PlanMine 3.0—improvements to a mineable resource of flatworm biology and biodiversityRozanski A, Moon H, Brandl H, Martín-Durán JM, Grohme MA, Hüttner K, Bartscherer K, Henry I and Rink JC
Nucleic Acids Research, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 47 (D1), d812-d820.
28-11-2018
General Principles of Planarian Embryogenesis and Its Analysis by In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry MethodsMartín-Durán JM
Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Nature vol. 1774, 405-421.
01-01-2018
2017
Convergent evolution of bilaterian nerve cordsMartín-Durán JM, Pang K, Børve A, Lê HS, Furu A, Cannon JT, Jondelius U and Hejnol A
Nature, Springer Nature vol. 553 (7686), 45-50.
13-12-2017
Cleavage modification did not alter blastomere fates during bryozoan evolution.Vellutini BC, Martín-Durán JM and Hejnol A
Bmc Biol, Springer Nature vol. 15 (1), 33-33.
28-04-2017
Increased taxon sampling reveals thousands of hidden orthologs in flatworms.Martín-Durán JM, Ryan JF, Vellutini BC, Pang K and Hejnol A
Genome Res, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press vol. 27 (7), 1263-1272.
11-04-2017
Clustered brachiopod Hox genes are not expressed collinearly and are associated with lophotrochozoan noveltiesSchiemann SM, Martín-Durán JM, Børve A, Vellutini BC, Passamaneck YJ and Hejnol A
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America vol. 114 (10), E1913-E1922.
07-03-2017
2016
The developmental basis for the recurrent evolution of deuterostomy and protostomy.Martín-Durán JM, Passamaneck YJ, Martindale MQ and Hejnol A
Nat Ecol Evol vol. 1 (1), 5-5.
05-12-2016
Embryonic chirality and the evolution of spiralian left-right asymmetries.Martín-Durán JM, Vellutini BC and Hejnol A
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, Royal Society Publishing vol. 371 (1710)
07-11-2016
Localization of planarian β-CATENIN-1 reveals multiple roles during anterior-posterior regeneration and organogenesisSureda-Gómez M, Martín-Durán JM and Adell T
Development, The Company of Biologists vol. 143 (22), 4149-4160.
13-10-2016
Molecular regionalization in the compact brain of the meiofaunal annelid Dinophilus gyrociliatus (Dinophilidae).Kerbl A, Martín-Durán JM, Worsaae K and Hejnol A
Evodevo, Springer Nature vol. 7 (1), 20-20.
30-08-2016
Evolution of the EGFR pathway in Metazoa and its diversification in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.Barberán S, Martín-Durán JM and Cebrià F
Sci Rep, Springer Nature vol. 6, 28071-28071.
21-06-2016
2015
The larval nervous system of the penis worm Priapulus caudatus (Ecdysozoa).Martín-Durán JM, Wolff GH, Strausfeld NJ and Hejnol A
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci vol. 371 (1685), 20150050-20150050.
23-11-2015
Evolution and development of the adelphophagic, intracapsular Schmidt’s larva of the nemertean Lineus ruberMartín-Durán JM, Vellutini BC and Hejnol A
Evodevo, Springer Nature vol. 6 (1)
28-09-2015
Getting to the bottom of anal evolutionHejnol A and Martín-Durán JM
Zoologischer Anzeiger, Elsevier vol. 256, 61-74.
01-05-2015
The study of Priapulus caudatus reveals conserved molecular patterning underlying different gut morphogenesis in the EcdysozoaMartín-Durán JM and Hejnol A
Bmc Biology, Springer Nature vol. 13 (1)
21-04-2015
PlatyhelminthesAdell T, Martín-Durán JM, Saló E and Cebrià F
In Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Invertebrates 2, Springer Nature 21-40.
01-01-2015
2014
Evolution, divergence and loss of the Nodal signalling pathway: new data and a synthesis across the BilateriaGrande C, Martín-Durán JM, Kenny NJ, Truchado-García M and Hejnol A
The International Journal of Developmental Biology, Upv/Ehu Press vol. 58 (6-7-8), 521-532.
01-01-2014
Evolution of protostomy in the BrachiopodaMartin-Duran JM, Passamaneck YJ, Martindale MQ and Hejnol A
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY. vol. 54, E133-E133.
01-01-2014
2013
A Broad Genomic Survey Reveals Multiple Origins and Frequent Losses in the Evolution of Respiratory Hemerythrins and HemocyaninsMartín-Durán JM, de Mendoza A, Sebé-Pedrós A, Ruiz-Trillo I and Hejnol A
Genome Biology and Evolution, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 5 (7), 1435-1442.
01-07-2013
2012
Deuterostomic Development in the Protostome Priapulus caudatusMartín-Durán JM, Janssen R, Wennberg S, Budd GE and Hejnol A
Current Biology, Elsevier vol. 22 (22), 2161-2166.
25-10-2012
Morphological and molecular development of the eyes during embryogenesis of the freshwater planarian Schmidtea polychroaMartín-Durán JM, Monjo F and Romero R
Development Genes and Evolution, Springer Nature vol. 222 (1), 45-54.
12-02-2012
Developmental diversity in free-living flatwormsMartín-Durán JM and Egger B
Evodevo, Springer Nature vol. 3 (1)
01-01-2012
Planarian embryology in the era of comparative developmental biologyMartín-Durán JM, Monjo F and Romero R
The International Journal of Developmental Biology, Upv/Ehu Press vol. 56 (1-2-3), 39-48.
01-01-2012
2011
Stepwise assembly of the Nova-regulated alternative splicing network in the vertebrate brainIrimia M, Denuc A, Burguera D, Somorjai I, Martín-Durán JM, Genikhovich G, Jimenez-Delgado S, Technau U, Roy SW, Marfany G and Garcia-Fernàndez J
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences vol. 108 (13), 5319-5324.
09-03-2011
Evolutionary implications of morphogenesis and molecular patterning of the blind gut in the planarian Schmidtea polychroaMartín-Durán JM and Romero R
Developmental Biology, Elsevier vol. 352 (1), 164-176.
03-02-2011
2010
Germ layer specification and axial patterning in the embryonic development of the freshwater planarian Schmidtea polychroaMartín-Durán JM, Amaya E and Romero R
Developmental Biology, Elsevier vol. 340 (1), 145-158.
25-01-2010
2008
New method to deliver exogenous material into developing planarian embryosMartín‐Durán JM, Duocastella M, Serra P and Romero R
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B Molecular and Developmental Evolution, Wiley vol. 310B (8), 668-681.
21-10-2008
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Evolutionary and Functional GenomicsThe evolution of developmental system drift in axial specification in SpiraliaChema Martin Duran
£648,579 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-08-2024 - 31-07-2027
Heads or tails? The evolution of trunk growth heterochronies in animal larvaeChema Martin Duran
£325,064 Leverhulme Trust
01-01-2024 - 31-12-2026
Highthroughput Light Sheet Microscopy: Imaging Across ScalesViji Draviam Sastry, Caroline Brennan, Vidya Chandran Darbari, Chema Martin Duran, Ivan Kadurin, Isabel M Palacios, Richard Pickersgill, Sarah McClelland, Tyson Sharp and Martin Knight
£386,205 MRC Medical Research Council
01-10-2022 - 31-03-2023
A confocal microscope for multidisciplinary dynamic studies of complex biological systemsConrad Mullineaux, Caroline Brennan, Alexandre De Mendoza Soler, Viji Draviam Sastry, Maurice Elphick, Christoph Engl, Isabel M Palacios, Matteo Palma, Marina Resmini, Alexander Ruban, Peter Thorpe, Angelika Stollewerk, Chema Martin Duran, Paulo Baptista Ribeiro, Susana Alves Godinho, Richard Grose, Stephanie Kermorgant, Peter McCormick and Tyson Sharp
£390,834 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-08-2022 - 31-07-2023
KTP Project with Zeiss- Generalisation of SpinX software (Deep Learning based system and 3D modellingViji Draviam Sastry and Chema Martin Duran
£142,038 Innovate UK
01-11-2021 - 30-04-2023
UK-China partnership: Chromosomal Instability aiding Genetic Variants (CIVa) linked to human ageingViji Draviam Sastry and Chema Martin Duran
£23,873 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-08-2021 - 31-07-2024
LIDo Research Experience Placement: Spatial and temporal dynamics of mRNAs and proteins driving spiral cleavage in annelids - Research EChema Martin Duran and Allan Carrillo-Baltodano
£4,000 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
18-06-2021 - 01-09-2021
Super-Resolution Microscopy of live cells in 3DViji Draviam Sastry, Conrad Mullineaux, Vidya Chandran Darbari, Lakxmi Subramanian, Fabrice Caudron, Richard Pickersgill, Guy Hanke, Alexander Ruban, Peter Thorpe, Christopher Duffy, Chema Martin Duran, John Connelly, Peter McCormick, James Chapple, Vardhman Rakyan, Tyson Sharp, Susana Alves Godinho and David Lee
£369,201 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-12-2020 - 31-03-2022
A high-throughput platform for assembling genome data: the SaphyrStephen Rossiter, Richard Nichols and Chema Martin Duran
£271,357 NERC Natural Environment Research Council
01-10-2019 - 31-03-2020
Untangling the genomic basis of bacterial symbiosis in gutless wormsChema Martin Duran
£98,797 Wellcome Trust
22-05-2019 - 22-11-2021
Evolution of cell-fate specification modes in spiral developmentChema Martin Duran
£1,163,396 EU Commission - Horizon 2020
01-02-2019 - 31-07-2024
Unravelling the origin of the feeding ciliary bands in annelid wormsChema Martin Duran
£17,882 Royal Society
05-10-2018 - 04-02-2020