Examination of germline and somatic intercellular bridges in Hydra vulgaris reveals insights into the evolutionarily conserved mechanism of intercellular bridge formation

Abstract

Incomplete cytokinesis results in the formation of stable intercellular bridges that have been extensively studied in bilaterians, where they play essential roles in cell-cell communication and coordination of differentiation. However, little is known about their structure and molecular composition in non-bilaterian animals. This study characterizes germline and somatic intercellular bridges in the cnidarian Hydra vulgaris, providing insights into their evolutionary origins and functional significance. We identified key conserved components, including KIF23, F-actin, and phosphotyrosine. Notably, we observed microtubule localization within Hydra ring canals, suggesting previously unrecognized functions for this cytoskeletal component in intercellular bridge formation. Bioinformatic analyses confirmed the conserved expression of Kif23 and suggested its role as a molecular marker for identifying ring canal-associated components. EdU incorporation during DNA replication demonstrated that cells connected by ring canals exhibit synchronized cell cycles, which may be critical for the coordination of division and differentiation. Our findings reveal that the molecular and structural features of intercellular bridges in Hydra are conserved across evolutionary lineages, highlighting their ancient origins and functional significance in cellular connectivity. The presence of synchronized cell cycles in ring canal-connected cells underscores their role in promoting coordinated cellular behaviors, processes fundamental to multicellular organization. This study provides new perspectives on the evolution of incomplete cytokinesis and establishes a framework for comparative investigations into the diversity and conservation of intercellular bridge mechanisms across metazoans.