Chromosome-scale genome assembly and gene annotation of the hydrothermal vent annelid Alvinella pompejana yield insight into animal evolution in extreme environments - BMC Biology

Background The Pompeii worm Alvinella pompejana, a terebellid annelid, has long been an exemplar of a metazoan that lives in an extreme environment, on the chimney wall of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, but this very environment has made it difficult to study. Comprehensive assessment of Alvinella pompejana genome content, and the factors that could explain its ability to thrive in seemingly hostile conditions has been lacking. Results We report the chromosome-level genome sequence of Alvinella pompejana and population-level sequence variants. We produced a set of gene models and analysed the predicted protein set in the light of past hypotheses about the thermotolerance of Alvinella, comparing it to other recently sequenced vent annelids. Despite its extreme environment, we find evidence for relatively conservative evolution of protein amino acid composition and genome evolution as measured by synteny. We suggest that prior hypotheses of loss of amino acid biosynthesis genes associated with obligate symbioses reported in siboglinid annelids are mistaken, and that Alvinella and siboglinids are typical metazoans in this regard. Alvinella encodes a number of respiratory enzymes unusual for bilaterian animals, suggesting an ability to better tolerate hypoxic environments. We find evidence of a parallel increase in the number of globin encoding genes and loss of light sensitive opsins and cryptochromes in deep-sea annelids. Conclusions Our results provide a comprehensive Alvinella protein and genome resource and shed light on the adaptation of Alvinella to temperature, hypoxia and darkness, as well as cryptic speciation, giving a firm base from which future studies can be taken forward.

Scientists share single-cell atlas for the highly regenerative worm, Pristina leidyi

An international team of scientists, including B. Duygu Özpolat at Washington University in St. Louis, has published the first single-cell atlas for Pristina leidyi (Pristina), the water nymph worm, a segmented annelid with extraordinary regenerative abilities that has fascinated biologists for more than a century.

Single view - AWI

Turner, Richard | Florida Tech

Visit the faculty profile of Richard Turner, Professor Emeritus, to learn more about his professional experience, educational background and research.

Insights into the biodiversity of annelids in the world's largest deep-sea mineral exploration region

The demand for rare raw materials, such as cobalt, is fueling the exploration of the deep-sea floor for mining. Commercial deep-sea mining is currently prohibited in areas beyond national jurisdiction, but companies are permitted exploratory operations in certain areas to assess their mineral wealth and measure environmental baselines.

Study offers glimpse of 500-million-year-old sea worm named after 'Dune' monster

Excavations by a University of Kansas paleontologist working in a treasure trove of fossils called the "Spence Shale Lagerstätte" have revealed an ancient sea worm unknown to science until now. The finding has now been published in the journal Historical Biology.

How larvae and life cycles evolve

Marine larvae have factored heavily in pursuits to understand the origin and evolution of animal life cycles. Recent comparisons of gene expression and chromatin state in different species of sea urchin and annelid show how evolutionary changes in embryonic gene regulation can lead to markedly different larval forms.