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Evolutionary decoupling of somatosensory circuit architecture and sensory neuron identity

ABSTRACT: Deeply conserved neural circuit architectures often depend on shared fate specification programs. The extent to which circuit evolution relies on the diversification of neuronal identities versus rewiring of existing populations remains poorly defined. We addressed this problem by examining the somatosensory system of the skate Leucoraja erinacea, leveraging its 420-million-year separation from mammals. We find that core somatosensory circuit features - including layering of the dorsal spinal cord and modality-specific targeting of sensory afferents - are deeply conserved, thus defining an ancestral vertebrate organization. Unexpectedly, the molecular programs specifying sensory subtypes diverge extensively from those in mammals. Although sensory neuron identity and spinal connectivity rely on target-derived cues, skates employ distinct and neurotrophin receptor and transcription factor identity codes. We propose that ancient spinal circuit organization functions as a scaffold that preserves system integrity while permitting diversification of sensory neuron regulatory programs, suggesting a general strategy for somatosensory circuit evolution.

ORGANISM(S): Leucoraja erinaceus

PROVIDER: GSE338711 | GEO | 2026/07/28

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Sensory neurons are distinguished by distinct signaling networks and receptive characteristics. Thus, sensory neuron types can be defined by linking transcriptome-based neuron typing with the sensory phenotypes. Here we classify somatosensory neurons of the mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) by high-coverage single-cell RNA-sequencing (10 950 Â± 1 218 genes per neuron) and neuron size-based hierarchical clustering. Moreover, single DRG neurons responding to cutaneous stimuli are recorded using an in vivo whole-cell patch clamp technique and classified by neuron-type genetic markers. Small diameter DRG neurons are classified into one type of low-threshold mechanoreceptor and five types of mechanoheat nociceptors (MHNs). Each of the MHN types is further categorized into two subtypes. Large DRG neurons are categorized into four types, including neurexophilin 1-expressing MHNs and mechanical nociceptors (MNs) expressing BAI1-associated protein 2-like 1 (Baiap2l1). Mechanoreceptors expressing trafficking protein particle complex 3-like and Baiap2l1-marked MNs are subdivided into two subtypes each. These results provide a new system for cataloging somatosensory neurons and their transcriptome databases. RNA-seq of mRNA levels in 197 individual DRG neurons We performed RNA-seq on total 203 individual DRG neurons. Six of them were not qualified and thus, were excluded for further analysis. To evaluate the quality of RNA-seq, we randomly devided No.72 neurons into two parts and performed RNA-seq seperately. Thus, we had 204 individual samples from 203 individual DRG and 198 individual qualified samples from 197 individual DRG. To evaluate the homogeneity of RNA-seq data from different mice at the same age just as used, we performed RNA-seq on 5 single DRG from different mice. Here, these data from DRG were also considered as experimental control. The 'DRG_neurons_RNA_Seq.txt' contains processed data for 204 samples and 'DRG_RNA_Seq.txt' for 5 samples.

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Evolutionary decoupling of somatosensory circuit architecture and sensory neuron identity

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