Matthew L. Rowe

The neuropeptide transcriptome of a model echinoderm, the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Neuronal secretion of peptide signaling molecules (neuropeptides) is an evolutionarily ancient feature of nervous systems. Here we report the identification of 20 cDNAs encoding putative neuropeptide precursors in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Phylum Echinodermata), providing new insights on the evolution and diversity of neuropeptides. Identification of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like peptide precursor (SpGnRHP) is consistent with the widespread phylogenetic distribution of GnRH-type neuropeptides in the bilateria. A protein (SpTRHLP) comprising multiple copies of peptides that share structural similarity with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is the first TRH-like precursor to be identified in an invertebrate. SpCTLP is the first calcitonin-like peptide with two N-terminally located cysteine residues to be found in a non-chordate species. Discovery of two proteins (SpPPLNP1, SpPPLNP2) comprising homologs of molluscan pedal peptides and arthropod orcokinins indicates the existence of a bilaterian family of pedal peptide/orcokinin-type neuropeptides. Other proteins identified contain peptides that do not share apparent sequence similarity with known neuropeptides. These include Spnp5, which comprises multiple copies of C-terminally amidated peptides that have an N-terminal Ala-Asn motif (AN peptides), and Spnp9, Spnp10 and Spnp12, which contain putative neuropeptides with a C-terminal Phe-amide, Ser-amide or Pro-amide, respectively. Several proteins (Spnp11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) contain putative neuropeptides with multiple cysteine residues (2, 6 or 8), which may mediate formation of intramolecular or intermolecular disulphide bridges. Looking ahead, the identification of these neuropeptide precursors in S. purpuratus has provided a strong basis for a comprehensive analysis of neuropeptide function in this model echinoderm species.

Neuropeptides and polypeptide hormones in echinoderms: new insights from analysis of the transcriptome of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

Echinoderms are of special interest for studies in comparative endocrinology because of their phylogenetic position in the animal kingdom as deuterostomian invertebrates. Furthermore, their pentaradial symmetry as adult animals provides a unique context for analysis of the physiological and behavioral roles of peptide signaling systems. Here we report the first extensive survey of neuropeptide and peptide hormone precursors in a species belonging to the class Holothuroidea. Transcriptome sequence data obtained from the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus were analyzed to identify homologs of precursor proteins that have recently been identified in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (class Echinoidea). A total of 17 precursor proteins have been identified in A. japonicus, including precursors of peptides related to thyrotropin-releasing hormone, pedal peptide/orcokinin-type peptides, AN peptides/tachykinins, luqins, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), GPA2-type glycoprotein hormone subunits and bursicon. In addition, an unusual finding was an A. japonicus calcitonin-type precursor protein (AjCTLPP), the first to be discovered that comprises two calcitonin-like peptides; this contrasts with the products of the alternatively-spliced calcitonin/CGRP gene in vertebrates, which comprise either calcitonin or CGRP. Collectively, the data obtained provide new insights on the evolution and diversity of neuropeptides and polypeptide hormones. Furthermore, because A. japonicus is one of several sea cucumber species that are used for human consumption, our findings may have practical and economic impact by providing a basis for neuroendocrine-based strategies to improve methods of aquaculture.

Discovery of sea urchin NGFFFamide receptor unites a bilaterian neuropeptide family

Neuropeptides are ancient regulators of physiology and behaviour, but reconstruction of neuropeptide evolution is often difficult owing to lack of sequence conservation. Here, we report that the receptor for the neuropeptide NGFFFamide in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (phylum Echinodermata) is an orthologue of vertebrate neuropeptide-S (NPS) receptors and crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) receptors. Importantly, this has facilitated reconstruction of the evolution of two bilaterian neuropeptide signalling systems. Genes encoding the precursor of a vasopressin/oxytocin-type neuropeptide and its receptor duplicated in a common ancestor of the Bilateria. One copy of the precursor retained ancestral features, as seen in highly conserved vasopressin/oxytocin–neurophysin-type precursors. The other copy diverged, but this took different courses in protostomes and deuterostomes. In protostomes, the occurrence of a disulfide bridge in neuropeptide product(s) of the precursor was retained, as in CCAP, but with loss of the neurophysin domain. In deuterostomes, we see the opposite scenario—the neuropeptides lost the disulfide bridge, and neurophysin was retained (as in the NGFFFamide precursor) but was subsequently lost in vertebrate NPS precursors. Thus, the sea urchin NGFFFamide precursor and receptor are ‘missing links’ in the evolutionary history of neuropeptides that control ecdysis in arthropods (CCAP) and regulate anxiety in humans (NPS).

The neuropeptidome of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish, Acanthaster planci

Outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS; Acanthaster planci) are a major cause of destruction of coral communities on the Australian Great Barrier Reef. While factors relating to population explosions and the social interactions of COTS have been well studied, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying COTS physiology and behaviour. One of the major classes of chemical messengers that regulate physiological and behavioural processes in animals is the neuropeptides. Here, we have analysed COTS genome and transcriptome sequence data to identify neuropeptide precursor proteins in this species. A total of 48 neuropeptide precursors were identified, including homologs of neuropeptides that are evolutionarily conserved throughout the Bilateria, and others that are novel. Proteomic mass spectrometry was employed to confirm the presence of neuropeptides in extracts of radial nerve cords. These transcriptomic and proteomic resources provide a foundation for functional studies that will enable a better understanding of COTS physiology and behaviour, and may facilitate development of novel population biocontrol methods. SIGNIFICANCE The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) is one of the primary factors leading to coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Our combined gene and proteomic findings of this study reveal the COTS neuropeptidome, including both echinoderm-like neuropeptides and novel putative neuropeptides. This represents the most comprehensive neuropeptidome for an echinoderm, contributing to the evolving knowledge of the COTS molecular neurobiology that may assist towards the development of biocontrol methods.

Discovery of a second SALMFamide gene in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus reveals that L-type and F-type SALMFamide neuropeptides coexist in an echinoderm species

The SALMFamides are a family of neuropeptides that act as muscle relaxants in the phylum Echinodermata. Two types of SALMFamides have been identified in echinoderms: firstly, the prototypical L-type SALMFamide peptides with the C-terminal sequence Leu-X-Phe-NH(2) (where X is variable), which have been identified in several starfish species and in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima; secondly, F-type SALMFamide peptides with the C-terminal sequence Phe-X-Phe-NH(2), which have been identified in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. However, the genetic basis and functional significance of the occurrence of these two types of SALMFamides in echinoderms are unknown. Here we have obtained a new insight on this issue with the discovery that in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus there are two SALMFamide genes. In addition to a gene encoding seven putative F-type SALMFamide neuropeptides with the C-terminal sequence Phe-X-Phe-NH(2) (SpurS1-SpurS7), which has been reported previously (Elphick and Thorndyke, 2005; J. Exp. Biol., 208, 4273-4282), we have identified a gene that is expressed in the nervous system and that encodes a precursor of two putative L-type SALMFamide neuropeptides with the C-terminal sequences Ile-His-Phe-NH(2) (SpurS8) and Leu-Leu-Phe-NH(2) (SpurS9). Our discovery has revealed for the first time that L-type and F-type SALMFamide neuropeptides can coexist in an echinoderm species but are encoded by different genes. We speculate that this feature of S. purpuratus may apply to other echinoderms and further insights on this issue will be possible if genomic and/or neural cDNA sequence data are obtained for other echinoderm species.

Localization of Neuropeptide Gene Expression in Larvae of an Echinoderm, the Starfish Asterias rubens

Neuropeptides are an ancient class of neuronal signaling molecules that regulate a variety of physiological and behavioral processes in animals. The life cycle of many animals includes a larval stage(s) that precedes metamorphic transition to a reproductively active adult stage but, with the exception of Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, research on neuropeptide signaling has hitherto largely focused on adult animals. However, recent advances in genome/transcriptome sequencing have facilitated investigation of neuropeptide expression/function in the larvae of protostomian (e.g., the annelid Platynereis dumerilii) and deuterostomian (e.g., the urochordate Ciona intestinalis) invertebrates. Accordingly, here we report the first multi-gene investigation of larval neuropeptide precursor expression in a species belonging to the phylum Echinodermata—the starfish Asterias rubens. Whole-mount mRNA in situ hybridization was used to visualize in bipinnaria and brachiolaria stage larvae the expression of eight neuropeptide precursors: L-type SALMFamide (S1), F-type SALMFamide (S2), vasopressin/oxytocin-type, NGFFYamide, thyrotropin-releasing hormone-type, gonadotropin-releasing hormone-type, calcitonin-type and corticotropin-releasing hormone-type. Expression of only three of the precursors (S1, S2, NGFFYamide) was observed in bipinnaria larvae but by the brachiolaria stage expression of all eight precursors was detected. An evolutionarily conserved feature of larval nervous systems is the apical organ and in starfish larvae this comprises the bilaterally symmetrical lateral ganglia, but only the S1 and S2 precursors were found to be expressed in these ganglia. A prominent feature of brachiolaria larvae is the attachment complex, comprising the brachia and adhesive disk, which mediates larval attachment to a substratum prior to metamorphosis. Interestingly, all of the neuropeptide precursors examined here are expressed in the attachment complex, with distinctive patterns of expression suggesting potential roles for neuropeptides in the attachment process. Lastly, expression of several neuropeptide precursors is associated with ciliary bands, suggesting potential roles for the neuropeptides derived from these precursors in control of larval locomotion and/or feeding. In conclusion, our findings provide novel perspectives on the evolution and development of neuropeptide signaling systems and neuroanatomical insights into neuropeptide function in echinoderm larvae.

Neuropeptidergic Systems in Pluteus Larvae of the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus: Neurochemical Complexity in a “Simple” Nervous System

The nervous system of the free-living planktonic larvae of sea urchins is relatively “simple,” but sufficiently complex to enable sensing of the environment and control of swimming and feeding behaviors. At the pluteus stage of development, the nervous system comprises a central ganglion of serotonergic neurons located in the apical organ and sensory and motor neurons associated with the ciliary band and the gut. Neuropeptides are key mediators of neuronal signaling in nervous systems but currently little is known about neuropeptidergic systems in sea urchin larvae. Analysis of the genome sequence of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus has enabled the identification of 38 genes encoding neuropeptide precursors (NP) in this species. Here we characterize for the first time the expression of nine of these NP genes in S. purpuratus larvae, providing a basis for a functional understanding of the neurochemical organization of the larval nervous system. In order to accomplish this we used single and double in situ hybridization, coupled with immunohistochemistry, to investigate NP gene expression in comparison with known markers (e.g., the neurotransmitter serotonin). Several sub-populations of cells that express one or more NP genes were identified, which are located in the apica organ, at the base of the arms, around the mouth, in the ciliary band and in the mid- and fore-gut. Furthermore, high levels of cell proliferation were observed in neurogenic territories, consistent with an increase in the number of neuropeptidergic cells at late larval stages. This study has revealed that the sea urchin larval nervous system is far more complex at a neurochemical level than was previously known. Our NP gene expression map provides the basis for future work, aimed at understanding the role of diverse neuropeptides in control of various aspects of embryonic and larval behavior.