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SUMMARY:Multi-level characterisation of cell types in Platynereis - Hernan
 do Martinez Vergara (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)
DTSTART:20180117T130000Z
DTEND:20180117T140000Z
UID:TALK98920@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Kate Criswell
DESCRIPTION:Cells are the biological units that compose every animal. The 
 molecular toolkit of each of these cells might well recapitulate its evolu
 tionary history. In the lab we make use of a cell-type approach to study c
 ore evolutionary events in bilaterians by comparing the cell-complement of
  distantly related body plans.\nIn order to compare cell-types within and 
 across organisms\, it is necessary to use the molecular information in a s
 ystem-wide and unbiased manner. We used the annelid model Platynereis dume
 rilii\, an animal for which we have generated gene expression atlases for 
 the pre-metamorphosis life stages\, achieving single-cell resolution using
  high-throughput imaging and image analysis routines.\nTo complement this 
 resource\, we have sequenced the transcriptomes of thousands of dissociate
 d single cells that we can spatially locate using our atlas. Additionally\
 , we have generated an ultrastructure dataset for a full animal at six day
 s post-fertilization\, to which we can map gene expression in order to gui
 de the reconstruction of a full connectome. The integration of these diffe
 rent technologies into a common atlas has the potential of rendering the l
 ocation\, morphology\, gene expression and connectivity information for ea
 ch cell within an entire organism. Using this resource we have begun to as
 sess specific cell types functionally.\nWe have identified a cell populati
 on expressing the gene dbx1. This transcription factor specifies a unique 
 neuronal population in the vertebrate spinal cord. These neurons are commi
 ssural and are involved in the control of the left-right alternation durin
 g locomotion. Using Crispr-Cas technology\, we have successfully knocked-o
 ut dbx1 in Platynereis and analyzed its phenotype. Preliminary results sho
 w that dbx1 neurons have a reduced number of commissures and an altered lo
 comotion pattern. These results raise the possibility of an ancestral comm
 issural dbx1 neuronal population being present in the Urbilaterian ancesto
 r\, with a possible role in locomotion control.
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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