Acoel single-cell transcriptomics: cell-type analysis of a deep branching organism
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ABSTRACT: Bilaterian animals display a wide variety of cell types, organized into defined anatomical structures and organ systems, which are mostly absent in pre-bilaterian 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 at least 11 major cell-type categories in acoels all contributing to the main biological functions of the organism: metabolism, locomotion and movements, behavior, defense and development. Interestingly, while most cell clusters express core fate markers shared with other animal clades, we also describe a surprisingly large numbers 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.
ORGANISM(S): Isodiametra pulchra
PROVIDER: GSE154049 | GEO | 2020/07/09
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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