Repository logo
 

Whole-body single-cell sequencing reveals transcriptional domains in the annelid larval body.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Achim, Kaia 
Eling, Nils 
Vergara, Hernando Martinez 
Bertucci, Paola Yanina 
Musser, Jacob 

Abstract

Animal bodies comprise diverse arrays of cells. To characterise cellular identities across an entire body, we have compared the transcriptomes of single cells randomly picked from dissociated whole larvae of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. We identify five transcriptionally distinct groups of differentiated cells, each expressing a unique set of transcription factors and effector genes that implement cellular phenotypes. Spatial mapping of cells into a cellular expression atlas, and wholemount in situ hybridisation of group-specific genes reveals spatially coherent transcriptional domains in the larval body, comprising e.g. apical sensory-neurosecretory cells vs. neural/epidermal surface cells. These domains represent new, basic subdivisions of the annelid body based entirely on differential gene expression, and are composed of multiple, transcriptionally similar cell types. They do not represent clonal domains, as revealed by developmental lineage analysis. We propose that the transcriptional domains that subdivide the annelid larval body represent families of related cell types that have arisen by evolutionary diversification. Their possible evolutionary conservation makes them a promising tool for evo-devo research. (167/250).

Description

Keywords

evo-devo, single-cell transcriptomics, expression atlas, transcriptional domain, cell type family, Platynereis dumerilii

Journal Title

Molecular Biology and Evolution

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0737-4038
1537-1719

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press
Sponsorship
KA and JM were supported by the Marie Curie COFUND programme from the European Commission and by EMBL core funding. NE, PC, VB, and DA were supported by core funding from EMBL. KA, HMV, PYB, PV were supported by the Advanced grant “Brain Evo-Devo” from the European Research Council. JCM was supported by core funding from EMBL and Cancer Research UK.