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Piekarz KM, Stolfi A. Development and circuitry of the tunicate larval Motor Ganglion, a putative hindbrain/spinal cord homolog. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:200-211. [PMID: 37675754 PMCID: PMC10918034 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The Motor Ganglion (MG) is a small collection of neurons that control the swimming movements of the tunicate tadpole larva. Situated at the base of the tail, molecular and functional comparisons suggest that may be a homolog of the spinal cord and/or hindbrain ("rhombospinal" region) of vertebrates. Here we review the most current knowledge of the development, connectivity, functions, and unique identities of the neurons that comprise the MG, drawn mostly from studies in Ciona spp. The simple cell lineages, minimal cellular composition, and comprehensively mapped "connectome" of the Ciona MG all make this an excellent model for studying the development and physiology of motor control in aquatic larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Hoyer J, Kolar K, Athira A, van den Burgh M, Dondorp D, Liang Z, Chatzigeorgiou M. Polymodal sensory perception drives settlement and metamorphosis of Ciona larvae. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1168-1182.e7. [PMID: 38335959 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The Earth's oceans brim with an incredible diversity of microscopic lifeforms, including motile planktonic larvae, whose survival critically depends on effective dispersal in the water column and subsequent exploration of the seafloor to identify a suitable settlement site. How their nervous systems mediate sensing of diverse multimodal cues remains enigmatic. Here, we uncover that the tunicate Ciona intestinalis larvae employ ectodermal sensory cells to sense various mechanical and chemical cues. Combining whole-brain imaging and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that stimuli encoded at the periphery are sufficient to drive global brain-state changes to promote or impede both larval attachment and metamorphosis behaviors. The ability of C. intestinalis larvae to leverage polymodal sensory perception to support information coding and chemotactile behaviors may explain how marine larvae make complex decisions despite streamlined nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgen Hoyer
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Kushal Kolar
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Athira Athira
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Meike van den Burgh
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Daniel Dondorp
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Zonglai Liang
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Marios Chatzigeorgiou
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway.
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Stolfi A. Sensory ecology: Uncovering the neural basis of settlement in a marine larva. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R249-R251. [PMID: 38531319 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Marine larvae must sense various environmental cues to find a suitable spot where they can settle and metamorphose. New work identifies the specific neurons that transduce these cues in the larva of Ciona, a non-vertebrate chordate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Anselmi C, Fuller GK, Stolfi A, Groves AK, Manni L. Sensory cells in tunicates: insights into mechanoreceptor evolution. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1359207. [PMID: 38550380 PMCID: PMC10973136 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1359207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Anselmi
- Hopkins Marine Station, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Gwynna K. Fuller
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andrew K. Groves
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lucia Manni
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
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Annona G, Liberti A, Pollastro C, Spagnuolo A, Sordino P, De Luca P. Reaping the benefits of liquid handlers for high-throughput gene expression profiling in a marine model invertebrate. BMC Biotechnol 2024; 24:4. [PMID: 38243234 PMCID: PMC10799371 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-024-00831-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern high-throughput technologies enable the processing of a large number of samples simultaneously, while also providing rapid and accurate procedures. In recent years, automated liquid handling workstations have emerged as an established technology for reproducible sample preparation. They offer flexibility, making them suitable for an expanding range of applications. Commonly, such approaches are well-developed for experimental procedures primarily designed for cell-line processing and xenobiotics testing. Conversely, little attention is focused on the application of automated liquid handlers in the analysis of whole organisms, which often involves time-consuming laboratory procedures. RESULTS Here, we present a fully automated workflow for all steps, from RNA extraction to real-time PCR processing, for gene expression quantification in the ascidian marine model Ciona robusta. For procedure validation, we compared the results obtained with the liquid handler with those of the classical manual procedure. The outcome revealed comparable results, demonstrating a remarkable time saving particularly in the initial steps of sample processing. CONCLUSIONS This work expands the possible application fields of this technology to whole-body organisms, mitigating issues that can arise from manual procedures. By minimizing errors, avoiding cross-contamination, decreasing hands-on time and streamlining the procedure, it could be employed for large-scale screening investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Annona
- Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Assunta Liberti
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Carla Pollastro
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- TIGEM - Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Sordino
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Luca
- Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
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Tolstenkov O, Mikhaleva Y, Glover JC. A miniaturized nigrostriatal-like circuit regulating locomotor performance in a protochordate. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3872-3883.e6. [PMID: 37643617 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
To gain insight into the evolution of motor control systems at the origin of vertebrates, we have investigated higher-order motor circuitry in the protochordate Oikopleura dioica. We have identified a highly miniaturized circuit in Oikopleura with a projection from a single pair of dopaminergic neurons to a small set of synaptically coupled GABAergic neurons, which in turn exert a disinhibitory descending projection onto the locomotor central pattern generator. The circuit is reminiscent of the nigrostriatopallidal system in the vertebrate basal ganglia, in which disinhibitory circuits release specific movements under the modulatory control of dopamine. We demonstrate further that dopamine is required to optimize locomotor performance in Oikopleura, mirroring its role in vertebrates. A dopamine-regulated disinhibitory locomotor control circuit reminiscent of the vertebrate nigrostriatopallidal system was thus already present at the origin of ancestral chordates and has been maintained in the face of extreme nervous system miniaturization in the urochordate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Tolstenkov
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen; Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Yana Mikhaleva
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen; Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Joel C Glover
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen; Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway; Laboratory of Neural Development and Optical Recording (NDEVOR), Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 9, 0372 Oslo, Norway.
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Johnson CJ, Kulkarni A, Buxton WJ, Hui TY, Kayastha A, Khoja AA, Leandre J, Mehta VV, Ostrowski L, Pareizs EG, Scotto RL, Vargas V, Vellingiri RM, Verzino G, Vohra R, Wakade SC, Winkeljohn VM, Winkeljohn VM, Rotterman TM, Stolfi A. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to identify genes required for mechanosensory neuron development and function. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio060002. [PMID: 37589291 PMCID: PMC10497037 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tunicates are marine, non-vertebrate chordates that comprise the sister group to the vertebrates. Most tunicates have a biphasic lifecycle that alternates between a swimming larva and a sessile adult. Recent advances have shed light on the neural basis for the tunicate larva's ability to sense a proper substrate for settlement and initiate metamorphosis. Work in the highly tractable laboratory model tunicate Ciona robusta suggests that sensory neurons embedded in the anterior papillae transduce mechanosensory stimuli to trigger larval tail retraction and initiate the process of metamorphosis. Here, we take advantage of the low-cost and simplicity of Ciona by using tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis to screen for genes potentially involved in mechanosensation and metamorphosis, in the context of an undergraduate 'capstone' research course. This small screen revealed at least one gene, Vamp1/2/3, which appears crucial for the ability of the papillae to trigger metamorphosis. We also provide step-by-step protocols and tutorials associated with this course, in the hope that it might be replicated in similar CRISPR-based laboratory courses wherever Ciona are available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akhil Kulkarni
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - William J. Buxton
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Tsz Y. Hui
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Anusha Kayastha
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Alwin A. Khoja
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Joviane Leandre
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Vanshika V. Mehta
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Logan Ostrowski
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Erica G. Pareizs
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Scotto
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Vanesa Vargas
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Raveena M. Vellingiri
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Giulia Verzino
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Rhea Vohra
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Saurabh C. Wakade
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | | | | | - Travis M. Rotterman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332 Atlanta, GO, USA
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Utsumi MK, Oka K, Hotta K. Transitions of motor neuron activities during Ciona development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1100887. [PMID: 36711039 PMCID: PMC9880257 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1100887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neurons (MNs) are one of the most important components of Central Pattern Generators (CPG) in vertebrates (Brown, Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (The Royal Society), 1911, 84(572), 308-319). However, it is unclear how the neural activities of these components develop during their embryogenesis. Our previous study revealed that in Ciona robusta (Ciona intestinalis type A), a model organism with a simple neural circuit, a single pair of MNs (MN2L/MN2R) was determining the rhythm of its spontaneous early motor behavior (developmental stage St.22-24). MN2s are known to be one of the main components of Ciona CPG, though the neural activities of MN2s in the later larval period (St.25-) were not yet investigated. In this study, we investigated the neural activities of MN2s during their later stages and how they are related to Ciona's swimming CPG. Long-term simultaneous Ca2+ imaging of both MN2s with GCaMP6s/f (St.22-34) revealed that MN2s continued to determine the rhythm of motor behavior even in their later larval stages. Their activities were classified into seven phases (I-VII) depending on the interval and the synchronicity of MN2L and MN2R Ca2+ transients. Initially, each MN2 oscillates sporadically (I). As they develop into swimming larvae, they gradually oscillate at a constant interval (II-III), then start to synchronize (IV) and fully synchronize (V). Intervals become longer (VI) and sporadic again during the tail aggression period (VII). Interestingly, 76% of the embryos started to oscillate from MN2R. In addition, independent photostimulations on left and right MN2s were conducted. This is the first report of the live imaging of neural activities in Ciona's developing swimming CPG. These findings will help to understand the development of motor neuron circuits in chordate animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madoka K. Utsumi
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kotaro Oka
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan,Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Japan,Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Kohji Hotta
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan,*Correspondence: Kohji Hotta,
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