Apoptosis-dependent head development during metamorphosis of the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus
Abstract
Apoptosis is a regulated cell death that depends on caspases. It has mainly been studied as a mechanism for the removal of unwanted cells. However, apoptotic cells can induce fate or behavior changes of their neighbors and thereby participate in development. Here, we address the functions of apoptosis during metamorphosis of the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus. We describe the apoptotic profile during metamorphosis of the larva and identify Caspase3/7a, but no other executioner caspases, as essential for apoptosis in this context. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we find that apoptosis is required for normal head development. Inhibition of apoptosis resulted in defects in head morphogenesis. Neurogenesis was compromised in the body column of apoptosis-inhibited animals but there was no effect on the survival or proliferation of stem cells, suggesting that apoptosis is required for cellular commitment rather than for the maintenance of their progenitors. Differential transcriptomic analysis identifies TRAF genes as downregulated in apoptosis-inhibited larvae and functional experiments provide evidence that they are essential for head development. Finally, we find no major role for apoptosis in head regeneration in this animal, in contrast to the significance of apoptosis in Hydra head regeneration.
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BibTeX
@article{krasovec2026apoptosisdependent,
title = {{Apoptosis-dependent head development during metamorphosis of the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus}},
author = {Gabriel Krasovec and Uri Frank},
journal = {Developmental Biology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.08.010},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05795090v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Apoptosis-dependent head development during metamorphosis of the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus
AU - Gabriel Krasovec
AU - Uri Frank
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Developmental Biology
DO - 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.08.010
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05795090v1
AB - Apoptosis is a regulated cell death that depends on caspases. It has mainly been studied as a mechanism for the removal of unwanted cells. However, apoptotic cells can induce fate or behavior changes of their neighbors and thereby participate in development. Here, we address the functions of apoptosis during metamorphosis of the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus. We describe the apoptotic profile during metamorphosis of the larva and identify Caspase3/7a, but no other executioner caspases, as essential for apoptosis in this context. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we find that apoptosis is required for normal head development. Inhibition of apoptosis resulted in defects in head morphogenesis. Neurogenesis was compromised in the body column of apoptosis-inhibited animals but there was no effect on the survival or proliferation of stem cells, suggesting that apoptosis is required for cellular commitment rather than for the maintenance of their progenitors. Differential transcriptomic analysis identifies TRAF genes as downregulated in apoptosis-inhibited larvae and functional experiments provide evidence that they are essential for head development. Finally, we find no major role for apoptosis in head regeneration in this animal, in contrast to the significance of apoptosis in Hydra head regeneration.
SN - 0012-1606
SN - 1095-564X
ER -