Transcriptome Characterization of Reverse Development in Turritopsis dohrnii (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria)

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Genomics
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Turritopsis dohrnii exhibits a unique ability to revert from the adult medusa stage to the polyp stage.
• This reverse development is triggered by stress, damage, or aging, involving a process called cell transdifferentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize and compare transcriptomes of polyp, medusa, and cyst stages of T. dohrnii.
• To identify genetic networks involved in reverse development and cell transdifferentiation.

Main Methods:

• Illumina RNA-sequencing of polyp, medusa, and cyst stages.
• De novo transcriptome assembly and annotation.
• Comparative transcriptomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes and networks.

Main Results:

• Generated transcriptomes for polyp (92,569 contigs), medusa (74,639 contigs), and cyst (86,373 contigs) stages.
• Identified significantly over- and under-expressed biological networks in the cyst stage compared to polyp and medusa stages.
• Highlighted potential roles of telomerase activity, DNA repair, transposable element regulation, and suppressed cell signaling in cyst stage processes.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first genetic insights into the life-cycle reversal of Turritopsis dohrnii.
• Identified key biological processes in the cyst stage that may drive transdifferentiation and potentially influence aging.
• Suggests T. dohrnii as a model organism for studying developmental plasticity, cell transdifferentiation, and aging.