Plant-like heliotropism in a photosymbiotic animal

Journal of Experimental Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 228(3)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT As in plants, photosynthesis also represents a key energy source photosymbiotic cnidarians bearing microalgae. We observed that the cnidarian sea anemone Anemonia viridis, commonly known as snakelocks anemone, displayed heliotropism or solar tracking their natural habitats. When exposed to sunlight, A. viridis point tentacles towards sun while remaining sessile, facing east at dawn and west dusk they track sun's relative position through day. This phenomenon was previously only plants. Solar movements are driven by peak wavelengths prompt endosymbionts. The heliotropic response absent both bleached (aposymbiotic) symbiotic with chemically inhibited photosynthesis. revealed direct correlation between symbiont oxygen production showed how utilises this mechanism modulate exposure irradiation. Our study exemplifies photosynthetic organisms such plants anemones, display similar behaviour environmental pressures.

Язык: Английский

Assembly of a functional neuronal circuit in embryos of an ancestral metazoan is influenced by temperature and the microbiome

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 122(23)

Опубликована: Июнь 5, 2025

Understanding how neural populations emerge to give rise behavior is a major goal in neuroscience. Here, we explore the self-assembly of circuits Hydra , an organism with simple nervous system but no centralized information processing, enhance understanding evolution. We define as spontaneous organization neurons into functional without requiring prespecified structural template. In this context, N4 neuronal circuit, which have previously found be particularly important feeding animal, develops embryos through activity-driven self-assembly, process intrinsic calcium activity drives connectivity and synchronization among spatially distributed over time. Gap junctions vesicle-mediated communication between non-neuronal cells drive rapid assembly, embryo’s prospective oral region exhibiting highest density. An artificial electrical circuit–based model biophysically inspired simulation demonstrates dynamic increases time, along predictions for selective adaptions connections. Environmental factors, like temperature absent microbiome, modify architecture, suggesting existence certain adaptability during development. propose that these fundamental features originated last common bilaterian ancestor, supporting hypothesis basic architecture universal. Since natural habitat both fluctuations changes microbiome can occur, our work not only illuminates developmental also may guide environmental evolutionary studies by explaining organisms adapt variations.

Язык: Английский

Assembly of a functional neuronal circuit in embryos of an ancestral metazoan is influenced by environmental signals including the microbiome

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Дек. 15, 2024

Abstract Understanding how neural populations evolve to give rise behavior is a major goal in neuroscience. However, the complexity of nervous system most invertebrates and vertebrates complicates deciphering underlying fundamental processes. Here, we explore self-assembly circuits Hydra , an organism with simple but no centralized information processing, improve understanding evolution. The N4 neuronal circuit embryos develops through activity-driven self-assembly, where neurons distinct regions increase connectivity synchronization. Gap junctions vesicle-mediated communication between non-neuronal cells drive rapid assembly, embryo’s prospective oral region exhibiting highest density. An artificial electrical circuit-based model demonstrates dynamic increases synchronization over time, along predictions for selective adaptions connections. Environmental factors, like temperature absent microbiome, modify architecture, suggesting existence certain plasticity development. We propose that these features originated last common bilaterian ancestor, supporting hypothesis basic architecture universal.

Язык: Английский