Comparative connectomics of two distantly related nematode species reveals patterns of nervous system evolution

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Cook, Steven J.; Kalinski, Cristine A.; Loer, Curtis M.; Memar, Nadin; Majeed, Maryam; Stephen, Sarah Rebecca; Bumbarger, Daniel J.; Riebesell, Metta; Conradt, Barbara; Schnabel, Ralf; Sommer, Ralf J.; Hobert, Oliver
• 署名单位: Columbia University; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; University of San Diego; Braunschweig University of Technology; University of Munich; Allen Institute for Brain Science; Institute for Basic Science - Korea (IBS); University of London; University College London
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-8081
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adx2143
• 发表日期: 2025-07-31
• 关键词: elegans; reconstruction; neuron; cells

摘要

Understanding the evolution of the bilaterian brain requires a detailed exploration of the precise nature of cellular and subcellular differences between related species. We undertook an electron micrographic reconstruction of the brain of the predatory nematode Pristionchus pacificus and compared the results with the brain of Caenorhabditis elegans, which diverged at least 100 million years ago. We revealed changes in neuronal cell death, neuronal cell position, axodendritic projection patterns, and synaptic connectivity of homologous neurons that display no obvious changes in overall neurite morphology and projection patterns. These multiscale patterns of evolutionary changes show no bias to specific brain regions or neuron types.