RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Characterization of cephalic and non-cephalic sensory cell types provides insight into joint photo- and mechanoreceptor evolution
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.01.10.426124
DO 10.1101/2021.01.10.426124
A1 Roger Revilla-i-Domingo
A1 Vinoth Babu Veedin Rajan
A1 Monika Waldherr
A1 Günther Prohaczka
A1 Hugo Musset
A1 Lukas Orel
A1 Elliot Gerrard
A1 Moritz Smolka
A1 Matthias Farlik
A1 Robert J. Lucas
A1 Florian Raible
A1 Kristin Tessmar-Raible
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/01/12/2021.01.10.426124.abstract
AB Rhabdomeric Opsins (r-Opsins) are light-sensors in cephalic eye photoreceptors, but also function in additional sensory organs. This has prompted questions on the evolutionary relationship of these cell types, and if ancient r-Opsins cells were non-photosensory. Our profiling of cephalic and non-cephalic r-opsin1-expressing cells of the marine bristleworm Platynereis dumerilii reveals shared and distinct features. Non-cephalic cells possess a full set of phototransduction components, but also a mechanosensory signature. We determine that Pdu-r-Opsin1 is a Gαq-coupled blue-light receptor. Profiling of cells from r-opsin1 mutants versus wild-types, and a comparison under different light conditions reveals that in the non-cephalic cells, light – mediated by r-Opsin1 – adjusts the expression level of a calcium transporter relevant for auditory mechanosensation in vertebrates. We establish a deep learning-based quantitative behavioral analysis for animal trunk movements, and identify a light-and r-Opsin-1-dependent fine-tuning of the worm’s undulatory movements in headless trunks, which are known to require mechanosensory feedback.Our results suggest an evolutionary concept in which r-Opsins act as ancient, light-dependent modulators of mechanosensation, and suggest that light-independent mechanosensory roles of r-Opsins likely evolved secondarily.