Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Cell. 2021 Dec 9;184(25):6138-6156.e28. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.014.
How the functions of multicellular organs emerge from the underlying evolution of cell types is poorly understood. We deconstructed evolution of an organ novelty: a rove beetle gland that secretes a defensive cocktail. We show how gland function arose via assembly of two cell types that manufacture distinct compounds. One cell type, comprising a chemical reservoir within the abdomen, produces alkane and ester compounds. We demonstrate that this cell type is a hybrid of cuticle cells and ancient pheromone and adipocyte-like cells, executing its function via a mosaic of enzymes from each parental cell type. The second cell type synthesizes benzoquinones using a chimera of conserved cellular energy and cuticle formation pathways. We show that evolution of each cell type was shaped by coevolution between the two cell types, yielding a potent secretion that confers adaptive value. Our findings illustrate how cooperation between cell types arises, generating new, organ-level behaviors.
多细胞器官的功能如何从细胞类型的基础演化中出现，目前还知之甚少。我们解构了一个器官新颖性的演化：一种罗纹甲虫的腺体，分泌防御性混合物。我们展示了腺体功能是如何通过两种制造不同化合物的细胞类型的组装而产生的。一种细胞类型，包括腹部内的一个化学储库，产生烷烃和酯类化合物。我们证明，这种细胞类型是表皮细胞和古老的信息素和脂肪细胞样细胞的混合体，通过每个亲本细胞类型的酶的镶嵌来执行其功能。第二种细胞类型使用保守的细胞能量和表皮形成途径的嵌合体合成苯醌。我们表明，两种细胞类型之间的共同进化塑造了每个细胞类型的进化，产生了具有适应性价值的强效分泌物。我们的发现说明了细胞类型之间的合作是如何产生的，从而产生新的器官级行为。
