The evolution of ACh and GABA as neurotransmitters: A hypothesis

Harris, Keith D.; Zahavi, Alon

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.07.045

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Abuse is prevented if the signal is more costly to the cheaters than the benefit they would receive. Costly signalling within the multicellular organism has been suggested for neurotransmitters 12 and for cellular competition and signals of quality within the body 13 . Is the cost of signals such as growth factors a "costly signal"?…”

Section: Cost Examples Of Signalling Molecules Triggering Cell Divismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a study exploring the role of the growth factors on tumour heterogeneity, the authors were able to measure the production cost of the growth factor IGF 11 . It has been previously suggested that some signals, in particular neurotransmitters 12 and signals of quality between cells in the body 13 would be costly. Here, we focus on signals that would provide a benefit to cancer, and study the implications of cost and range of such signals.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Signalling architectures can prevent cancer evolution

Oña

Lachmann

2020

Sci Rep

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cooperation between cells in multicellular organisms is preserved by an active regulation of growth through the control of cell division. Molecular signals used by cells for tissue growth are usually present during developmental stages, angiogenesis, wound healing and other processes. in this context, the use of molecular signals triggering cell division is a puzzle, because any molecule inducing and aiding growth can be exploited by a cancer cell, disrupting cellular cooperation. A significant difference is that normal cells in a multicellular organism have evolved in competition between high-level organisms to be altruistic, being able to send signals even if it is to their detriment. conversely, cancer cells evolve their abuse over the cancer's lifespan by out-competing their neighbours. A successful mutation leading to cancer must evolve to be adaptive, enabling a cancer cell to send a signal that results in higher chances to be selected. Using a mathematical model of such molecular signalling mechanism, this paper argues that a signal mechanism would be effective against abuse by cancer if it affects the cell that generates the signal as well as neighbouring cells that would receive a benefit without any cost, resulting in a selective disadvantage for a cancer signalling cell. We find that such molecular signalling mechanisms normally operate in cells as exemplified by growth factors. In scenarios of global and local competition between cells, we calculate how this process affects the fixation probability of a mutant cell generating such a signal, and find that this process can play a key role in limiting the emergence of cancer.

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Section: Cost Examples Of Signalling Molecules Triggering Cell Divismentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Signalling architectures can prevent cancer evolution

Oña

Lachmann

2020

Sci Rep

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“…A signal is nothing more than a trait that has evolved to serve as an advantage for the signaler by altering the behavior of the receiver [5]. Living organisms are largely influenced by their environment; they are constantly observing features and behaviors of other living organisms (both of their own species and of other species) that could be advantageous for them [5], [6]. The 'signal selection' theory claims that the effectiveness of a trait aids in its dissemination among signalers serving as an indication of their present or future activity.…”

Section: Evolution Of Signal Molecules: Evolutionarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their presence was even illustrated in some species of prokaryotes; with His being the most widely characterized [21], [22]. Adrenaline was the first NT to be isolated and described by Napoleon Cybulski (1895) and John J. Abel (1899) from animal pituitary gland extracts [5], [23]. Interestingly, the concentration levels of the NTs are very similar in all kingdoms with exceptions being some specialized cells or organs of higher ranked species.…”

Section: Unicellular Model Cellmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Phylogenetic Background of Neurotransmitters in the Unicellular Organism Tetrahymena Pyriformis

Tziakouri

Lajkó

Kőhidai

2018

ABNE

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The Human Central Nervous System (CNS) is governed by electrochemical networks forming a delicate interplay between the different regions of the brain. The objective of the present experiment is to investigate the phylogenetic background of this electrochemical network by creating a comparable binary and ternary interplay of interactions between different neurotransmitters (noradrenaline, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate, and dopamine) in the unicellular eukaryote Tetrahymena pyriformis. Tetrahymena – as a protozoon – has no nervous system; however, it has been shown that it has not only the ability to store, synthesize and secrete biogenic amines but it also bears binding sites for the corresponding receptors of some of these molecules. The chemotactic responsiveness elicited by the neurotransmitters was examined in Tetrahymena cells, using a modified version of Leick’s two-chamber capillary chemotaxis assay with 20-minute incubation times. The concentration course of each neurotransmitter was determined and the concentration eliciting the strongest effect was further used to examine the chemotactic response of the neurotransmitters when used in pairs and in groups of three. Adequate cellular responses (chemoattractant and chemorepellent) were detected in both cases when the neurotransmitters were used alone and in combinations. A pattern detected in these responses was related to the neurotransmitters’ physicochemical characteristics (XlogP, TPSA). These provide evidence that the chief regulatory molecules of the CNS can be identified even in lower, eukaryotic unicellular levels of phylogeny and possibly alter the basic functions of these organisms. In summary, our results support the theory that any evolved nervous system-like interplay could stem from a common origin. Therefore, identifying the “ancient” function of a molecule or its receptor effect can open new windows in the advancement of therapeutic interventions.

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“…This perspective of secreted factors is based on the handicap principle, which suggests that signals provide reliable information relating to the state of the signaller (Zahavi, 1975;Zahavi and Zahavi, 1997). The handicap principle has been widely applied to signalling among multicellular organisms (Maynard Smith and Harper, 2003); however, only a handful of studies have attempted to apply it to intercellular signalling (Krakauer and Pagel, 1996;Zahavi and Perel, 2011;Weiss and Zahavi, 2012;Harris and Zahavi, 2013;Kölker, 2018) or to unicellular organisms (Nathon et al, 1995;Atzmony et al, 1997;Zahavi et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applying the handicap principle to biofilms: condition‐dependent signalling inBacillus subtilismicrobial communities

Harris

Kolodkin‐Gal

2019

Environmental Microbiology

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Summary Bacteria in nature often reside in differentiated communities termed biofilms. These communities, which are composed of a number of functionally‐distinct cell types, are an interesting example of division of labour in microbes, and as such have been used as a system to study the evolution of cooperation. The structured population of the biofilm also plays a critical role in the persistence of infections, and biofouling of medical and industrial devices. Biofilm formation involves several stages of differentiation, which are mediated by extracellular factors secreted by cells composing the biofilm. The developmental model of biofilm formation describes this process mechanistically: specific subpopulations of cells synthesize signals within the biofilm, and promote the differentiation of other subpopulations. The handicap principle suggests that signals function because they provide reliable information regarding the state of the signaller; here, we apply the handicap principle to signalling among cells composing Bacillus subtilis biofilms, emphasizing the perspective of secreted factors as sources of information rather than solely as mediators of development. Such information could facilitate competition among phenotypically‐similar cells composing the biofilm, affecting local organizational patterns within defined subpopulations.

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The evolution of ACh and GABA as neurotransmitters: A hypothesis

Cited by 8 publications

References 31 publications

Signalling architectures can prevent cancer evolution

Signalling architectures can prevent cancer evolution

The Phylogenetic Background of Neurotransmitters in the Unicellular Organism Tetrahymena Pyriformis

Applying the handicap principle to biofilms: condition‐dependent signalling inBacillus subtilismicrobial communities

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