Single-cell atavism reveals an ancient mechanism of cell type diversification in a sea anemone

Leslie S. Babonis; Camille Enjolras; Abigail J. Reft; Brent M. Foster; Fredrik Hugosson; Joseph F. Ryan; Marymegan Daly; Mark Q. Martindale

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-36615-9

Nature Communications (Feb 2023)

Single-cell atavism reveals an ancient mechanism of cell type diversification in a sea anemone

Leslie S. Babonis,
Camille Enjolras,
Abigail J. Reft,
Brent M. Foster,
Fredrik Hugosson,
Joseph F. Ryan,
Marymegan Daly,
Mark Q. Martindale

Affiliations

Leslie S. Babonis: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
Camille Enjolras: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
Abigail J. Reft: National Systematics Laboratory, Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries
Brent M. Foster: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
Fredrik Hugosson: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
Joseph F. Ryan: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida
Marymegan Daly: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University
Mark Q. Martindale: Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36615-9
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Understanding how new cell types arise is essential for understanding the evolution of animal diversity. This study shows that a single gene, NvSox2, acts as a simple switch controlling the development of two alternative types of stinging cells in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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