Acoel Single-Cell Transcriptomics: Cell Type Analysis of a Deep Branching Bilaterian. (23rd December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duruz, Jules; Kaltenrieder, Cyrielle; Ladurner, Peter; Bruggmann, Rémy; Martìnez, Pedro; Sprecher, Simon G
• Editors: O'Connell, Mary
• Is Part Of: Molecular biology and evolution. Volume 38:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1888
• Page End: 1904
• Publication Date: 2020-12-23
• Subjects: bilaterians -- Xenacoelomorpha -- single-cell transcriptomics; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Molecular evolution -- Periodicals; Evolution, Molecular -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa333
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-4038

Abstract

Abstract: Bilaterian animals display a wide variety of cell types, organized into defined anatomical structures and organ systems, which are mostly absent in prebilaterian animals. Xenacoelomorpha are an early-branching bilaterian phylum displaying an apparently relatively simple anatomical organization that have greatly diverged from other bilaterian clades. In this study, we use whole-body single-cell transcriptomics on the acoel Isodiametra pulchra to identify and characterize different cell types. Our analysis identifies the existence of ten major cell type categories in acoels all contributing to main biological functions of the organism: metabolism, locomotion and movements, behavior, defense, and development. Interestingly, although most cell clusters express core fate markers shared with other animal clades, we also describe a surprisingly large number of clade-specific marker genes, suggesting the emergence of clade-specific common molecular machineries functioning in distinct cell types. Together, these results provide novel insight into the evolution of bilaterian cell types and open the door to a better understanding of the origins of the bilaterian body plan and their constitutive cell types.