Bipolarity in planarians is not induced by space travel

Sluys, Ronald; Stocchino, Giacinta Angela

doi:10.1002/reg2.90

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Interestingly, we also found the model species D. japonica to regenerate double-headed individuals with low frequency (Supplementary Fig. 2b), which is relevant regarding the interpretation of previously reported regeneration experiments in Earth's orbit 38,39 . Although not captured by our classification scheme, each of these species-specific regeneration peculiarities represents a future opportunity for probing the mechanistic underpinnings of planarian regeneration.…”

Section: Comparative Analysis Of Planarian Head Regenerationsupporting

confidence: 77%

Evolutionary dynamics of whole-body regeneration across planarian flatworms

Vila-Farré,

Rozanski,

Ivanković

et al. 2023

Nat Ecol Evol

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Regenerative abilities vary dramatically across animals. Even amongst planarian flatworms, well-known for complete regeneration from tiny body fragments, some species have restricted regeneration abilities while others are almost entirely regeneration incompetent. Here, we assemble a diverse live collection of 40 planarian species to probe the evolution of head regeneration in the group. Combining quantification of species-specific head-regeneration abilities with a comprehensive transcriptome-based phylogeny reconstruction, we show multiple independent transitions between robust whole-body regeneration and restricted regeneration in freshwater species. RNA-mediated genetic interference inhibition of canonical Wnt signalling in RNA-mediated genetic interference-sensitive species bypassed all head-regeneration defects, suggesting that the Wnt pathway is linked to the emergence of planarian regeneration defects. Our finding that Wnt signalling has multiple roles in the reproductive system of the model species Schmidtea mediterranea raises the possibility that a trade-off between egg-laying, asexual reproduction by fission/regeneration and Wnt signalling drives regenerative trait evolution. Although quantitative comparisons of Wnt signalling levels, yolk content and reproductive strategy across our species collection remained inconclusive, they revealed divergent Wnt signalling roles in the reproductive system of planarians. Altogether, our study establishes planarians as a model taxon for comparative regeneration research and presents a framework for the mechanistic evolution of regenerative abilities.

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Section: Comparative Analysis Of Planarian Head Regenerationsupporting

confidence: 77%

Evolutionary dynamics of whole-body regeneration across planarian flatworms

Vila-Farré,

Rozanski,

Ivanković

et al. 2023

Nat Ecol Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Interestingly, we also found the model species Dugesia japonica to regenerate double-headed individuals with low frequency (S. Fig. 2b), which is relevant regarding the interpretation of previously reported regeneration experiments in space 38,39 . Although not captured by our classification scheme, each of these species-specific regeneration peculiarities represents a future opportunity for probing the mechanistic underpinnings of planarian regeneration.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 79%

Probing the evolutionary dynamics of whole-body regeneration within planarian flatworms

Vila‐Farré

Rozanski

Ivanković

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Why some animals can regenerate while many others cannot remains a fascinating question. Even amongst planarian flatworms, well-known for their ability to regenerate complete animals from small body fragments, species exist that have restricted regeneration abilities or are entirely regeneration incompetent. Towards the goal of probing the evolutionary dynamics of regeneration, we have assembled a diverse live collection of planarian species from around the world. The combined quantification of species-specific head regeneration abilities and comprehensive transcriptome-based phylogeny reconstructions reveals multiple independent transitions between robust whole-body regeneration and restricted regeneration in the freshwater species. Our demonstration that the RNAi-mediated inhibition of canonical Wnt signalling can nevertheless bypass all experimentally tractable head regeneration defects in the current collection indicates that the pathway may represent a hot spot in the evolution of planarian regeneration defects. Combined with our finding that Wnt signalling has multiple roles in the reproductive system of the model species S. mediterranea, this raises the possibility of a trade-off between egg-laying and asexual reproduction by fission/regeneration as a driver of regenerative trait evolution. Although initial quantitative comparisons of Wnt signalling levels, reproductive investment, and regenerative abilities across the collection confirm some of the model's predictions, they also highlight the diversification of molecular mechanisms amongst the divergent planarian lineages. Overall, our study establishes a framework for the mechanistic evolution of regenerative abilities and planarians as model taxon for comparative regeneration research.

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