A subset of conserved phagocytic genes are likely used for the intracellular theft of cnidarian stinging organelles in nudibranch gastropods

TL;DR

This study explores how certain genes help nudibranch sea slugs steal stinging cells from their prey, revealing a unique use of phagocytosis.

Contribution

The study identifies specific genes enriched in tissues where stinging cell sequestration occurs in nudibranchs.

Findings

166 genes are highly expressed in nematocyst-sequestering regions of Berghia stephanieae.

31 of these genes overlap with those upregulated in Hermissenda opalescens sequestering tissues.

Phagocytosis-related genes are expressed in both sequestering and non-sequestering tissues.

Abstract

Phagocytosis is a universal physiological process in eukaryotes with many important biological functions. In nudibranch gastropods, a novel form of phagocytosis called nematocyst sequestration is specialized for the uptake of venomous stinging organelles stolen from their cnidarian prey. This process is highly selective. Here we use the emerging model nudibranch species Berghia stephanieae and Hermissenda opalescens to identify genes enriched within the body regions where nematocyst sequestration occurs, and investigate how the expression profile of phagocytosis, immune, and digestive genes differs between nematocyst-sequestering regions relative to those where other phagocytic functions occur.

We identified 166 genes with significantly higher expression in sequestering regions in B. stephanieae, including genes associated with development, membrane transport, and metabolism. Of these, at least 31 overlap with transcripts upregulated in H. opalescens sequestering tissues. Using hybridization chain reaction in situs, we show that at least two of these genes were localized to sequestering cells in B. stephanieae, including a putative C-type lectin receptor and a collagen. Genes annotated with phagocytosis, digestion, or immunity GO terms were often expressed in both sequestering and non-sequestering tissues, suggesting that they may also play a role in sequestration processes.

Our results suggest that phagocytosis genes likely play a role in the sequestration phenotype, and that a small subset of genes (e.g., collagen) may play unique functions yet to be uncovered. We also show that genes categorized as functioning in endocytosis, immunity, and digestion have lower overall expression in sequestering tissues, supporting the hypothesis that sequestering tissues show a narrowing of function compared to digestive tissues. This study lays the foundation for further inquiry into mechanisms of organelle sequestration in nudibranchs and other organisms.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13227-025-00241-x.

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