Anemone Sting Loss Resulting from a Single Gene Change

This study focuses on the scientists' ability to disable a single regulatory gene in a species of sea anemone and the resulting shift or conversion from the creation of a sticky thread that entangles the prey to a deadly small harpoon discharged by the stinging cell as a defense mechanism.

The researchers went on to demonstrate that in a type of sea anemone called Nematostella vectensis, the inactivation of a gene called NvSox2 allowed the transformation from a probing cell (known as a nematocyte) to a sticky encapsulating cell (called spirocyte).Furthermore, it was proposed that the emergence of the NvSox2 gene may have caused the nematocyte cell to truly evolve from a spirocyte cell.

The NvSox2 gene was referred to as a lever controlling two entirely different cell destiny since it regulates a wide range of features that give this cell a distinctive identity .All cnidarians, including corals, hydrae, and sea anemones, have "stinging cells," in general. They also serve as cell models because they have a variety of physical structures and functions. This makes it possible for scientists to investigate fundamental questions about how many different forms can be adapted by a single cell. The sea anemone's architectural design has an inherent conversion capability that offers the creature great flexibility to colonize new habitats and produce novel features.

The breadth of this single gene control phenomena over two destinies in other cnidarian species, including a closely similar type of coral, is a subject of ongoing research by scientists. The whole project's long-term objective is to retrace the discovery process in order to determine the bare minimum of genes required to create stinging cells with the ability to fire a projectile, after which trials with further variants would be conducted.

References:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230223132827.htm

Leslie S. Babonis, Camille Enjolras, Abigail J. Reft, Brent M. Foster, Fredrik Hugosson, Joseph F. Ryan, Marymegan Daly, Mark Q. Martindale. Single-cell atavism reveals an ancient mechanism of cell type diversification in a sea anemone. Nature Communications, 2023; 14 (1)

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36615-9