Morphological, molecular, and behavioral characterization of a ganglion-like oral nerve ring in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis [RNA-seq]

ABSTRACT: The emergence of centralized nervous systems reflects a major inflection point in evolution, enabling animals to integrate diverse inputs and coordinate complex behaviors. While neural centralization is typically associated with Bilateria, the sister taxon Cnidaria (jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals) possesses nerve nets that can nevertheless harbor localized neural specializations. Despite growing recognition of these specializations, an integrated understanding of their anatomical organization, molecular identity, and behavioral roles remains limited. Here, we show that the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis possesses an oral nerve ring (ONR) marked by soma-level neuronal condensations near tentacle junctions and circumferential neurites. This organization emerges during the larval-to-polyp transition and becomes more pronounced during subsequent development. Single-cell analysis reveals that ONR-associated neurons express diverse neurotransmitter receptors yet few sensory or ciliary signatures, defining a receptor-rich molecular profile with potential for input integration. Genetic disruption of an ONR-enriched GABA receptor-like subunit selectively delays swallowing initiation in a standardized feeding paradigm, supporting a role for GABA signaling in modulating swallowing onset after prey capture. Together, these findings provide anatomical, molecular, and behavioral evidence for a localized neural specialization in an anthozoan nerve net and position Nematostella as a tractable system for investigating the evolutionary origins of neural centralization.

ORGANISM(S): Nematostella vectensis

PROVIDER: GSE316974 | GEO | 2026/09/12

REPOSITORIES: GEO