Project description:Studies of ascidian (sea squirt) embryos have highlighted the importance of cell lineages in animal development for over 100 years. As simple proto-vertebrates, they are also used to explore the evolutionary origins of novel cell types, such as cranial placodes and neural crest in vertebrates. To build upon these efforts we have determined comprehensive single cell transcriptomes of Ciona intestinalis throughout embryogenesis. More than 90,000 cells from 10 different developmental stages were examined, spanning the entirety of morphogenesis, from the onset of gastrulation at the 110-cell stage to the hatching of swimming tadpoles. This represents an average of over 12-fold coverage for every cell at every stage of development, owing to the small cell numbers that are a hallmark property of ascidian embryogenesis. Single cell transcriptome trajectories were used to construct “virtual” cell lineage maps, which confirm and extend those determined by conventional labeling methods. These datasets were also used to reconstruct regulatory cascades and provisional gene networks for a variety of cell types, including nearly 40 different neuronal subtypes comprising the larval nervous system. We summarize several applications of these datasets, including the identification of individual transcriptomes within the complete synaptome of swimming tadpoles, visualizing dynamic changes in gene expression during the birth, migration, and axogenesis of defined neurons, and the evolution of novel cell types such as the vertebrate telencephalon.
Project description:Recent studies have unveiled the deep sea as a rich biosphere, populated by species descended from shallow-water ancestors post-mass extinctions. Research on genomic evolution and microbial symbiosis has shed light on how these species thrive in extreme deep-sea conditions. However, early adaptation stages, particularly the roles of conserved genes and symbiotic microbes, remain inadequately understood. This study examined transcriptomic and microbiome changes in shallow-water mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to deep-sea conditions at the Site-F cold seep in the South China Sea. Results reveal complex gene expression adjustments in stress response, immune defense, homeostasis, and energy metabolism pathways during adaptation. After 10 days of deep-sea exposure, shallow-water mussels and their microbial communities closely resembled those of native deep-sea mussels, demonstrating host and microbiome convergence in response to adaptive shifts. Notably, methanotrophic bacteria, key symbionts in native deep-sea mussels, emerged as a dominant group in the exposed mussels. Host genes involved in immune recognition and endocytosis correlated significantly with the abundance of these bacteria. Overall, our analyses provide insights into adaptive transcriptional regulation and microbiome dynamics of mussels in deep-sea environments, highlighting the roles of conserved genes and microbial community shifts in adapting to extreme environments.