Genome and single-cell RNA-sequencing of the earthworm Eisenia andrei identifies cellular mechanisms underlying regeneration

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Yong Shao
  • Xiao-Bo Wang
  • Jin-Jin Zhang
  • Ming Li Li
  • Shou-Song Wu
  • Xi-Yao Ma
  • Xue Wang
  • Hui-Fang Zhao
  • Yuan Li
  • Helen He Zhu
  • David M. Irwin
  • De-Peng Wang
  • KU, thw266
  • Jue Ruan
  • Dong-Dong Wu

The earthworm is particularly fascinating to biologists because of its strong regenerative capacity. However, many aspects of its regeneration in nature remain elusive. Here we report chromosome-level genome, large-scale transcriptome and single-cell RNA-sequencing data during earthworm (Eisenia andrei) regeneration. We observe expansion of LINE2 transposable elements and gene families functionally related to regeneration (for example, EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor) particularly for genes exhibiting differential expression during earthworm regeneration. Temporal gene expression trajectories identify transcriptional regulatory factors that are potentially crucial for initiating cell proliferation and differentiation during regeneration. Furthermore, early growth response genes related to regeneration are transcriptionally activated in both the earthworm and planarian. Meanwhile, single-cell RNA-sequencing provides insight into the regenerative process at a cellular level and finds that the largest proportion of cells present during regeneration are stem cells.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2656
JournalNature Communications
Volume11
Number of pages15
ISSN2041-1723
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

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