Deciphering deep-sea chemosynthetic symbiosis by single-nucleus RNA-sequencing
Bathymodioline mussels dominate deep-sea methane seep and hydrothermal vent habitats and obtain nutrients and energy primarily through chemosynthetic endosymbiotic bacteria in the bacteriocytes of their gill. However, the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate mussel host–symbiont interactions remain unclear. Here, we constructed a comprehensive cell atlas of the gill in the mussel Gigantidas platifrons from the South China Sea methane seeps (1100 m depth) using single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) and whole-mount in situ hybridisation. We identified 13 types of cells, including three previously unknown ones, and uncovered unknown tissue heterogeneity. Every cell type has a designated function in supporting the gill’s structure and function, creating an optimal environment for chemosynthesis, and effectively acquiring nutrients from the endosymbiotic bacteria. Analysis of snRNA-seq of in situ transplanted mussels clearly showed the shifts in cell state in response to environmental oscillations. Our findings provide insight into the principles of host–symbiont interaction and the bivalves' environmental adaption mechanisms.
Authors
- Chao Lian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2583-9334)
- Kai He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6234-2589)
- Minxiao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6567-3295)
- Pei‐Yuan Qian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4074-9078)
- Quanyong Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7073-0267)
- Chaolun Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1890-0587)
- Zhaoshan Zhong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1643-5407)
- Jing Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9392-6600)
- Huan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3968-6463)
- Lei Cao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4289-4025)
- Kai Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7230-6488)
- Zhou Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7977-3692)
- Hao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9435-5501)
- Hao Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6697-0809)
Institutions
- Kunming University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HK)
- Guangzhou University (CN)
- Institute of Oceanology (CN)
- South China Sea Institute Of Oceanology (CN)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) (CN)
- Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- eLife
- Published
- 2024-08-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.88294.4
- Citations
- 9
- Primary Topic
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.13
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China