Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

Importance of clitellar tissue in the regeneration ability of earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

August 1, 2022

Journal

Functional & integrative genomics

Volume/Issue

22/4

ISSN

1438-7948

Among the annelids, earthworms are renowned for their phenomenal ability to regenerate the lost segments. The adult earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae contains 120 segments and the body segments of the earthworm are divided into pre-clitellar, clitellar and post-clitellar segments. The present study denoted that clitellum plays vital role in the successful regeneration of the species. We have performed histological studies to identify among the three skin layers of the earthworm, which cellular layer supports the blastema formation and regeneration of the species. The histological evidences denoted that the proliferation of the longitudinal cell layer at the amputation site is crucial for the successful regeneration of the earthworm and it takes place only in the presence of an intact clitellum. Besides we have performed clitellar transcriptome analysis of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae to monitor the key differentially expressed genes and their associated functions and pathways controlling the clitellar tissue changes during both anterior and posterior regeneration of the earthworm. A total of 4707 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the control clitellum and clitellum of anterior regenerated earthworms and 4343 DEGs were detected between the control clitellum and clitellum of posterior regenerated earthworms. The functional enrichment analysis confirmed the genes regulating the muscle mass shape and structure were significantly downregulated and the genes associated with response to starvation and anterior-posterior axis specification were significantly upregulated in the clitellar tissue during both anterior and posterior regeneration of the earthworm. The RNA sequencing data of clitellum and the comparative transcriptomic analysis were helpful to understand the complex regeneration process of the earthworm.

Alternate Journal

Funct Integr Genomics

PubMed ID

35416560

Authors

Sayan Paul
Subburathinam Balakrishnan
Arun Arumugaperumal
Saranya Lathakumari
Sandhya Soman Syamala
Vijithkumar Vijayan
Selvan Christyraj Jackson Durairaj
Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami
Sudhakar Sivasubramaniam

Keywords

Gene Expression Profiling
Oligochaeta
Animals