Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution
Tunicates, the sister group of vertebrates, offer a unique perspective for evolutionary developmental studies (Evo-Devo) due to their simple anatomical organization. Moreover, the separation of tunicates from vertebrates predated the vertebrate-specific genome duplications. As adults, they include b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1359207/full |
| _version_ | 1827318758234914816 |
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| author | Chiara Anselmi Chiara Anselmi Gwynna K. Fuller Alberto Stolfi Andrew K. Groves Andrew K. Groves Lucia Manni |
| author_facet | Chiara Anselmi Chiara Anselmi Gwynna K. Fuller Alberto Stolfi Andrew K. Groves Andrew K. Groves Lucia Manni |
| author_sort | Chiara Anselmi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tunicates, the sister group of vertebrates, offer a unique perspective for evolutionary developmental studies (Evo-Devo) due to their simple anatomical organization. Moreover, the separation of tunicates from vertebrates predated the vertebrate-specific genome duplications. As adults, they include both sessile and pelagic species, with very limited mobility requirements related mainly to water filtration. In sessile species, larvae exhibit simple swimming behaviors that are required for the selection of a suitable substrate on which to metamorphose. Despite their apparent simplicity, tunicates display a variety of mechanoreceptor structures involving both primary and secondary sensory cells (i.e., coronal sensory cells). This review encapsulates two decades of research on tunicate mechanoreception focusing on the coronal organ’s sensory cells as prime candidates for understanding the evolution of vertebrate hair cells of the inner ear and the lateral line organ. The review spans anatomical, cellular and molecular levels emphasizing both similarity and differences between tunicate and vertebrate mechanoreception strategies. The evolutionary significance of mechanoreception is discussed within the broader context of Evo-Devo studies, shedding light on the intricate pathways that have shaped the sensory system in chordates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:07:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a364c2d35b3b4a20b2240cff3c590a8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-634X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:07:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a364c2d35b3b4a20b2240cff3c590a8d2024-03-14T05:08:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2024-03-011210.3389/fcell.2024.13592071359207Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolutionChiara Anselmi0Chiara Anselmi1Gwynna K. Fuller2Alberto Stolfi3Andrew K. Groves4Andrew K. Groves5Lucia Manni6Hopkins Marine Station, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United StatesWu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United StatesDepartment of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesSchool of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United StatesDepartment of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDepartment of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesDipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, ItalyTunicates, the sister group of vertebrates, offer a unique perspective for evolutionary developmental studies (Evo-Devo) due to their simple anatomical organization. Moreover, the separation of tunicates from vertebrates predated the vertebrate-specific genome duplications. As adults, they include both sessile and pelagic species, with very limited mobility requirements related mainly to water filtration. In sessile species, larvae exhibit simple swimming behaviors that are required for the selection of a suitable substrate on which to metamorphose. Despite their apparent simplicity, tunicates display a variety of mechanoreceptor structures involving both primary and secondary sensory cells (i.e., coronal sensory cells). This review encapsulates two decades of research on tunicate mechanoreception focusing on the coronal organ’s sensory cells as prime candidates for understanding the evolution of vertebrate hair cells of the inner ear and the lateral line organ. The review spans anatomical, cellular and molecular levels emphasizing both similarity and differences between tunicate and vertebrate mechanoreception strategies. The evolutionary significance of mechanoreception is discussed within the broader context of Evo-Devo studies, shedding light on the intricate pathways that have shaped the sensory system in chordates.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1359207/fullmechanoreceptorevolutionplacodechordateshair cellsprimary sensory cells |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Anselmi Chiara Anselmi Gwynna K. Fuller Alberto Stolfi Andrew K. Groves Andrew K. Groves Lucia Manni Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology mechanoreceptor evolution placode chordates hair cells primary sensory cells |
| title | Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution |
| title_full | Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution |
| title_fullStr | Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution |
| title_short | Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution |
| title_sort | sensory cells in tunicates insights into mechanoreceptor evolution |
| topic | mechanoreceptor evolution placode chordates hair cells primary sensory cells |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1359207/full |
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