Single-cell profiling of the amphioxus digestive tract reveals conservation of endocrine cells in chordates.

ABSTRACT: Despite their pivotal role, the evolutionary origins of vertebrate digestive systems remain enigmatic. We explored the cellular characteristics of the amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae) digestive tract, a model for the presumed primitive chordate digestive system, using bulk tissue companioned with single-cell RNA sequencing. Our findings reveal segmentation and a rich diversity of cell clusters, and we highlight the presence of epithelial-like, ciliated cells in the amphioxus midgut and describe three types of endocrine-like cells that secrete insulin-like, glucagon-like, and somatostatin-like peptides. Furthermore, Pdx, Ilp1, Ilp2, and Ilpr knockout amphioxus lines revealed that, in amphioxus, Pdx does not influence Ilp expression. We also

SUBMITTER: Dai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11661445 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature