Fig. 3

Differential gene expression and over-represented GO terms in four life-cycle stages of Dicyema japonicum. a A heat map of expression levels of differentially expressed genes manifesting ≥4x differences among life-cycle stages. More than 80% of differentially expressed genes exhibit higher expression in infusoriform larvae. b Highly expressed infusoriform larval genes that exhibit over-representation for GO terms such as response to stimulus, chemical synaptic transmission, and ion channel activity, suggesting that dicyemids possess potential sensory functions. GO terms associated with mobility, such as motor activity and actin binding, suggest that some cilia of infusoriform larvae contribute to their swimming ability. c The over-represented GO terms of highly expressed genes in life cycle stages other than infusoriform larvae