A cellular and molecular analysis of SoxB-driven neurogenesis in a cnidarian

eLife

Paul Gonzalez¹  Michelle Kincoyne²  Miguel Salinas-Saavedra³  Emma T McMahon³  Hakima Flici³  James M Gahan³  Eleni Chrysostomou³  Sebastian G Gornik³  Kerry Thompson⁴  Andreas D Baxevanis⁵  Uri Frank⁵  Shirley Hanley⁶  Christine E Schnitzler⁷ 

[1] Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States;Carbohydrate Signalling Group, Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland;Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Discipline of Anatomy, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland;Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States;National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland;Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, United States;

关键词: neurogenesis;    evolution;    stem cells;    regeneration;    Cnidaria;    Hydractinia;   

DOI  :  10.7554/eLife.78793

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Neurogenesis is the generation of neurons from stem cells, a process that is regulated by SoxB transcription factors (TFs) in many animals. Although the roles of these TFs are well understood in bilaterians, how their neural function evolved is unclear. Here, we use Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, a member of the early-branching phylum Cnidaria, to provide insight into this question. Using a combination of mRNA in situ hybridization, transgenesis, gene knockdown, transcriptomics, and in vivo imaging, we provide a comprehensive molecular and cellular analysis of neurogenesis during embryogenesis, homeostasis, and regeneration in this animal. We show that SoxB genes act sequentially at least in some cases. Stem cells expressing Piwi1 and Soxb1, which have broad developmental potential, become neural progenitors that express Soxb2 before differentiating into mature neural cells. Knockdown of SoxB genes resulted in complex defects in embryonic neurogenesis. Hydractinia neural cells differentiate while migrating from the aboral to the oral end of the animal, but it is unclear whether migration per se or exposure to different microenvironments is the main driver of their fate determination. Our data constitute a rich resource for studies aiming at addressing this question, which is at the heart of understanding the origin and development of animal nervous systems.

【 授权许可】

Unknown