Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China.
Nat Commun. 2024 Oct 4;15(1):8626. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52941-y.
Understanding how cells communicated before the evolution of nervous systems in early metazoans is key to unraveling the origins of multicellular life. We focused on Trichoplax adhaerens, one of the earliest multicellular animals, to explore this question. Through screening a small compound library targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), we found that Trichoplax exhibits distinctive rotational movements when exposed to epinephrine. Further studies suggested that, akin to those in humans, this basal organism also utilizes adrenergic signals to regulate its negative taxis behavior, with the downstream signaling pathway being more straightforward and efficient. Mechanistically, the binding of ligands activates downstream calcium signaling, subsequently modulating ciliary redox signals. This process ultimately regulates the beating direction of cilia, governing the coordinated movement of the organism. Our findings not only highlight the enduring presence of adrenergic signaling in stress responses during evolution but also underscore the importance of early metazoan expansion of GPCR families. This amplification empowers us with the ability to sense external cues and modulate cellular communication effectively.
在早期后生动物神经系统进化之前，了解细胞是如何进行通讯的，对于揭示多细胞生命的起源至关重要。我们专注于研究 Trichoplax adhaerens，这是最早的多细胞动物之一，以探索这个问题。通过筛选针对 G 蛋白偶联受体 (GPCR) 的小化合物文库，我们发现暴露于肾上腺素会使 Trichoplax 表现出独特的旋转运动。进一步的研究表明，与人类类似，这种基础生物也利用肾上腺素信号来调节其负趋性行为，下游信号通路更加直接和高效。从机制上讲，配体的结合激活下游钙信号，进而调节纤毛的氧化还原信号。这个过程最终调节纤毛的拍打方向，控制生物体的协调运动。我们的发现不仅强调了肾上腺素信号在进化过程中的应激反应中的持久存在，也强调了早期后生动物 GPCR 家族扩张的重要性。这种扩增使我们能够有效地感知外部线索并调节细胞通讯。
