Identification of genes responsible for the social skill in the earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae

Abstract

Social abilities are an essential factor in our normal life. Many disorders are associated with social abilities. The molecular depth of social abilities is still obscure. In water, the earthworms form a self-assemblage which is a social ability of the earthworm. The brain amputees regenerate their brain in eight days and they lack the social ability and fail to establish self-assemblage. In the present study, we harnessed the earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae as a model to understand the molecular depth of social ability using their behaviour of self-assemblage. We show that the administration of lithium chloride in the brain amputee restored the ability of self assemblage. Total mRNA sequencing by Ion torrent sequencing platform identified the differentially regulated social skill responsive genes of the brain and nerve cords in the control worm vs 2nd & 3rd-day regenerating worms with and without Lithium chloride injection. Functional annotation and bioinformatics data analysis showed that 899 brain-specific genes are expressed in the nerve cord upon LiCl injection. Of them, 227 genes are autism-linked. Since G-quadruplexes have a role in neurological disorders we have scanned G-quadruplexes in the draft genome and transcriptome. Found 53 transcripts triggered during LiCl treatment. Future experiments in the worm could lead to a functional depth of the socially responsible genes.