Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae
The ability to perceive and respond to light stimuli is fundamental not only for spatial vision but also to many other light-mediated interactions with the environment. In animals, light perception is performed by specific cells known as photoreceptors and, at molecular level, by a group of GPCRs kn...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/17/2134 |
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| author | Maria Cocurullo Periklis Paganos Rossella Annunziata Danila Voronov Maria Ina Arnone |
| author_facet | Maria Cocurullo Periklis Paganos Rossella Annunziata Danila Voronov Maria Ina Arnone |
| author_sort | Maria Cocurullo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ability to perceive and respond to light stimuli is fundamental not only for spatial vision but also to many other light-mediated interactions with the environment. In animals, light perception is performed by specific cells known as photoreceptors and, at molecular level, by a group of GPCRs known as opsins. Sea urchin larvae possess a group of photoreceptor cells (PRCs) deploying a Go-Opsin (Opsin3.2) which have been shown to share transcription factors and morphology with PRCs of the ciliary type, raising new questions related to how this sea urchin larva PRC is specified and whether it shares a common ancestor with ciliary PRCs or it if evolved independently through convergent evolution. To answer these questions, we combined immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization to investigate how the Opsin3.2 PRCs develop in the sea urchin <i>Strongylocentrotus purpuratus</i> larva. Subsequently, we applied single-cell transcriptomics to investigate the molecular signature of the <i>Sp-Opsin3.2</i>-expressing cells and show that they deploy an ancient regulatory program responsible for photoreceptors specification. Finally, we also discuss the possible functions of the Opsin3.2-positive cells based on their molecular fingerprint, and we suggest that they are involved in a variety of signaling pathways, including those entailing the thyrotropin-releasing hormone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:25:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41823830be7d4da4a3b6b9f88668284f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:25:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-41823830be7d4da4a3b6b9f88668284f2023-11-19T07:57:43ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092023-08-011217213410.3390/cells12172134Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin LarvaeMaria Cocurullo0Periklis Paganos1Rossella Annunziata2Danila Voronov3Maria Ina Arnone4Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, ItalyThe ability to perceive and respond to light stimuli is fundamental not only for spatial vision but also to many other light-mediated interactions with the environment. In animals, light perception is performed by specific cells known as photoreceptors and, at molecular level, by a group of GPCRs known as opsins. Sea urchin larvae possess a group of photoreceptor cells (PRCs) deploying a Go-Opsin (Opsin3.2) which have been shown to share transcription factors and morphology with PRCs of the ciliary type, raising new questions related to how this sea urchin larva PRC is specified and whether it shares a common ancestor with ciliary PRCs or it if evolved independently through convergent evolution. To answer these questions, we combined immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization to investigate how the Opsin3.2 PRCs develop in the sea urchin <i>Strongylocentrotus purpuratus</i> larva. Subsequently, we applied single-cell transcriptomics to investigate the molecular signature of the <i>Sp-Opsin3.2</i>-expressing cells and show that they deploy an ancient regulatory program responsible for photoreceptors specification. Finally, we also discuss the possible functions of the Opsin3.2-positive cells based on their molecular fingerprint, and we suggest that they are involved in a variety of signaling pathways, including those entailing the thyrotropin-releasing hormone.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/17/2134opsinphotoreceptorsevolutionsea urchin |
| spellingShingle | Maria Cocurullo Periklis Paganos Rossella Annunziata Danila Voronov Maria Ina Arnone Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae Cells opsin photoreceptors evolution sea urchin |
| title | Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae |
| title_full | Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae |
| title_fullStr | Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae |
| title_short | Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Profile of Go-Opsin Photoreceptor Cells in Sea Urchin Larvae |
| title_sort | single cell transcriptomic analysis reveals the molecular profile of go opsin photoreceptor cells in sea urchin larvae |
| topic | opsin photoreceptors evolution sea urchin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/12/17/2134 |
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