# Identification of molecular nociceptors in Octopus vulgaris through functional characterisation in Caenorhabditis elegans

## TL;DR

Researchers identified 19 genes in octopuses linked to sensing pain by comparing them to genes in a worm model.

## Contribution

A novel bioinformatic approach identified 19 octopus nociception-related genes using C. elegans functional validation.

## Key findings

- 51 nociception-related genes were predicted in Octopus vulgaris transcriptome.
- 19 genes were prioritized based on C. elegans loss-of-function experiments in a low pH avoidance test.
- TRP channels and neuropeptides emerged as key molecules in nociception.

## Abstract

Nociception, a phenomenon crucial for animal survival, deploys evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanisms. Among invertebrate species, cephalopods are of particular interest as they possess a well-developed brain speculated to be able to encode pain-like states. This has led to their inclusion in the Directive 2010/63 EU for welfare protection.

However, the molecular mechanisms of nociception in cephalopods are still poorly characterised and it is important to address this knowledge gap to better understand cephalopods' capacity to express pain states. Here we describe a bioinformatic strategy utilising conserved nociceptive genes, to identify the orthologous candidates in the Octopus vulgaris transcriptome. We identified 51 genes we predict to function in nociception. These add to the mechanosensory TRPN and the unique chemotactile receptors recently identified in octopus suckers, thus expanding the set of genes that merit further functional characterisation in cephalopods. We therefore selected 38 orthologues in Caenorhabditis elegans, a tractable experimental platform and tested loss of function mutant strains of distinct functional gene classes (e.g. osm-9, egl-3, frpr-3) in a low pH avoidance paradigm. This identified 19 nociceptive-related genes to be prioritised for further functional characterisation in O. vulgaris.

Summary: A bioinformatic strategy for nociceptors in Octopus vulgaris identified 19 candidate genes with Caenorhabditis elegans orthologues. A subset regulates C. elegans aversion highlighting TRP channels and neuropeptides as key molecules of interest.