The rapid regenerative response of a model sea anemone speciesExaiptasia pallidais characterised by tissue plasticity and highly coordinated cell communication

Abstract

AbstractRegeneration of a limb or tissue can be achieved through multiple different pathways and mechanisms. The sea anemoneExaiptasia pallidahas been observed to have excellent regenerative proficiency but this has not yet been described transcriptionally. In this study we examined the genetic expression changes during a regenerative timecourse and report key genes involved in regeneration and wound healing. We found that the major response was an early upregulation of genes involved in cellular movement and cell communication, which likely contribute to a high level of tissue plasticity resulting in the rapid regeneration response observed in this species. We find the immune system is only transcriptionally active in the first eight hours post-amputation and conclude, in accordance with previous literature, that the immune system and regeneration have an inverse relationship. Fifty-nine genes (3.8% of total) differentially expressed during regeneration were identified as having no orthologues in other species, indicating that regeneration inE. pallidamay rely on the activation of species-specific novel genes. Additionally, taxonomically-restricted novel genes, including species-specific novels, and highly conserved genes were identified throughout the regenerative timecourse, showing that both may work in concert to achieve complete regeneration. We conclude thatE. pallidabehaves similarly to other anemone species such asNematostella vectensisandCalliactis polypusbut with some notable novel differences.