Dataset Information

Hidden cell diversity in Placozoa: ultrastructural insights from Hoilungia hongkongensis.

ABSTRACT: From a morphological point of view, placozoans are among the most simple free-living animals. This enigmatic phylum is critical for our understanding of the evolution of animals and their cell types. Their millimeter-sized, disc-like bodies consist of only three cell layers that are shaped by roughly seven major cell types. Placozoans lack muscle cells and neurons but are able to move using their ciliated lower surface and take up food in a highly coordinated manner. Intriguingly, the genome of Trichoplax adhaerens, the founding member of the enigmatic phylum, has disclosed a surprising level of genetic complexity. Moreover, recent molecular and functional investigations have uncovered a much larger, so-far hidden cell-type diversity. Here, we have extended the microanatomical characterization of a recently described placozoan species-Hoilungia hongkongensis. In H. hongkongensis, we recognized the established canonical three-layered placozoan body plan but also came across several morphologically distinct and potentially novel cell types, among them novel gland cells and "shiny spheres"-bearing cells at the upper epithelium. Thus, the diversity of cell types in placozoans is indeed higher than anticipated.

SUBMITTER: Romanova DY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8523601 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Hidden cell diversity in Placozoa: ultrastructural insights from Hoilungia hongkongensis.

Romanova Daria Y DY Varoqueaux Frédérique F Daraspe Jean J Nikitin Mikhail A MA Eitel Michael M Fasshauer Dirk D Moroz Leonid L LL

Cell and tissue research 20210419 3

From a morphological point of view, placozoans are among the most simple free-living animals. This enigmatic phylum is critical for our understanding of the evolution of animals and their cell types. Their millimeter-sized, disc-like bodies consist of only three cell layers that are shaped by roughly seven major cell types. Placozoans lack muscle cells and neurons but are able to move using their ciliated lower surface and take up food in a highly coordinated manner. Intriguingly, the genome of ...[more]

PMID: 33876313

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Project description:BackgroundCiliated protists are a widely distributed, morphologically diverse, and genetically heterogeneous group of unicellular organisms, usually known for containing two types of nuclei: a transcribed polyploid macronucleus involved in gene expression and a silent diploid micronucleus responsible for transmission of genetic material during sexual reproduction and generation of the macronucleus. Although studies in a few species of culturable ciliated protists have revealed the highly dynamic nature of replicative and recombination events relating the micronucleus to the macronucleus, the broader understanding of the genomic diversity of ciliated protists, as well as their phylogenetic relationships and metabolic potential, has been hampered by the inability to culture numerous other species under laboratory conditions, as well as the presence of symbiotic bacteria and microalgae which provide a challenge for current sequencing technologies. Here, we optimized single-cell sequencing methods and associated data analyses, to effectively remove contamination by commensal bacteria, and generated high-quality genomes for a number of Euplotia species.ResultsWe obtained eight high-quality Euplotia genomes by using single-cell genome sequencing techniques. The genomes have high genomic completeness, with sizes between 68 and 125 M and gene numbers between 14K and 25K. Through comparative genomic analysis, we found that there are a large number of gene expansion events in Euplotia genomes, and these expansions are closely related to the phenotypic evolution and specific environmental adaptations of individual species. We further found four distinct subgroups in the genus Euplotes, which exhibited considerable genetic distance and relative lack of conserved genomic syntenies. Comparative genomic analyses of Uronychia and its relatives revealed significant gene expansion associated with the ciliary movement machinery, which may be related to the unique and strong swimming ability.ConclusionsWe employed single-cell genomics to obtain eight ciliate genomes, characterized the underestimated genomic diversity of Euplotia, and determined the divergence time of representative species in this subclass for the first time. We also further investigated the extensive duplication events associated with speciation and environmental adaptation. This study provides a unique and valuable resource for understanding the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of ciliates.

Dataset Information

Hidden cell diversity in Placozoa: ultrastructural insights from Hoilungia hongkongensis.

Publications

Hidden cell diversity in Placozoa: ultrastructural insights from Hoilungia hongkongensis.

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