Regulation of dynamic pigment cell states at single-cell resolution

• Main Authors: Margherita Perillo, Nathalie Oulhen, Stephany Foster, Maxwell Spurrell, Cristina Calestani, Gary Wessel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2020-08-01
• Series: eLife
• Subjects: sea urchin; pigment cells; scmRNA-seq; gene regulatory network; innate immunity; glial cells missing
• Online Access: https://elifesciences.org/articles/60388

Cells bearing pigment have diverse roles and are often under strict evolutionary selection. Here, we explore the regulation of pigmented cells in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, an emerging model for diverse pigment function. We took advantage of single cell RNA-seq (scRNAseq) technology and discovered that pigment cells in the embryo segregated into two distinct populations, a mitotic cluster and a post-mitotic cluster. Gcm is essential for expression of several genes important for pigment function, but is only transiently expressed in these cells. We discovered unique genes expressed by pigment cells and test their expression with double fluorescence in situ hybridization. These genes include new members of the fmo family that are expressed selectively in pigment cells of the embryonic and in the coelomic cells of the adult - both cell-types having immune functions. Overall, this study identifies nodes of molecular intersection ripe for change by selective evolutionary pressures.