Division of developmental phases of freshwater leech Whitmania pigra and key genes related to neurogenesis revealed by whole genome and transcriptome analysis
Basic science published in BMC Genomics (2023)
Abstract
The freshwater leech Whitmania pigra (W. pigra) Whitman (Annelida phylum) is a model organism for neurodevelopmental studies. However, molecular biology research on its embryonic development is still scarce. Here, we described a series of developmental stages of the W. pigra embryos and defined five broad stages of embryogenesis: cleavage stages, blastocyst stage, gastrula stage, organogenesis and refinement, juvenile. We obtained a total of 239.64 Gb transcriptome data of eight representative developmental phases of embryos (from blastocyst stage to maturity), which was then assembled into 21,482 unigenes according to our reference genome sequenced by single-molecule real-time (SMRT) long-read sequencing. We found 3114 genes differentially expressed during the eight phases with phase-specific expression pattern. Using a comprehensive transcriptome dataset, we demonstrated that 57, 49 and 77 DEGs were respectively related to morphogenesis, signal pathways and neurogenesis. 49 DEGs related to signal pathways included 30 wnt genes, 14 notch genes, and 5 hedgehog genes. In particular, we found a cluster consisting of 7 genes related to signal pathways as well as synapses, which were essential for regulating embryonic development. Eight genes cooperatively participated in regulating neurogenesis. Our results reveal the whole picture of W. pigra development mechanism from the perspective of transcriptome and provide new clues for organogenesis and neurodevelopmental studies of Annelida species.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Резюме
PacBio SMRT genome and transcriptome of W. pigra define five embryonic phases identifying 3114 phase-specific DEGs; 30 wnt, 14 notch, 5 hedgehog signaling pathway genes essential for neurogenesis.
Почему это важно для гирудотерапии
This study described five broad embryonic developmental stages of the freshwater leech Whitmania pigra—cleavage, blastocyst, gastrula, organogenesis/refinement, and juvenile—and analyzed transcriptome data across eight phases, assembling 21,482 unigenes and identifying differentially expressed genes related to morphogenesis, signaling pathways, and neurogenesis. The reported signaling-pathway genes included wnt, notch, and hedgehog genes. For ASH's domain, the relevance is limited because the abstract addresses leech developmental biology and neurogenesis rather than hirudotherapy, the leech secretome, anticoagulants, or therapeutic application. The abstract does not report any clinical, salivary, or therapy-related findings, so the study has no defensible direct relevance to hirudotherapy based on the abstract alone.
Цитирование
Division of developmental phases of freshwater leech Whitmania pigra and key genes related to neurogenesis revealed by whole genome and transcriptome analysis.
Liu J et al. · BMC genomics, 2023
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