Spatially resolved single-cell atlas of ascidian endostyle provides insight into the origin of vertebrate pharyngeal organs

Sci Adv. 2024 Mar 29;10(13):eadi9035. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adi9035. Epub 2024 Mar 29.

Abstract

The pharyngeal endoderm, an innovation of deuterostome ancestors, contributes to pharyngeal development by influencing the patterning and differentiation of pharyngeal structures in vertebrates; however, the evolutionary origin of the pharyngeal organs in vertebrates is largely unknown. The endostyle, a distinct pharyngeal organ exclusively present in basal chordates, represents a good model for understanding pharyngeal organ origins. Using Stereo-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing, we constructed aspatially resolved single-cell atlas for the endostyle of the ascidian Styela clava. We determined the cell composition of the hemolymphoid region, which illuminates a mixed ancestral structure for the blood and lymphoid system. In addition, we discovered a cluster of hair cell-like cells in zone 3, which has transcriptomic similarity with the hair cells of the vertebrate acoustico-lateralis system. These findings reshape our understanding of the pharynx of the basal chordate and provide insights into the evolutionary origin of multiplexed pharyngeal organs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Pharynx
  • Urochordata* / genetics
  • Vertebrates