A genetically tractable non-vertebrate system to study complete camera-type eye regeneration

Alice Accorsi (), Brenda Pardo, Eric Ross, Timothy J. Corbin, Melainia McClain, Kyle Weaver, Kym Delventhal, Asmita Gattamraju, Jason A. Morrison, Mary Cathleen McKinney, Sean A. McKinney and Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado ()
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Alice Accorsi: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Brenda Pardo: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Eric Ross: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Timothy J. Corbin: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Melainia McClain: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Kyle Weaver: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Kym Delventhal: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Asmita Gattamraju: University of California
Jason A. Morrison: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Mary Cathleen McKinney: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Sean A. McKinney: Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado: Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Camera-type eyes are complex sensory organs susceptible to irreversible damage. Their repair is difficult to study due to the paucity of camera-type eye regeneration models. Identifying a genetically tractable organism with the ability to fully regenerate complete camera-type eyes would help overcome this difficulty. Here, we introduce the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata, capable of full regeneration of camera-type eyes even after complete resection. We defined anatomical components of P. canaliculata eyes and genes expressed during crucial steps of their regeneration. By exploiting the unique features of this organism, we successfully established stable mutant lines in apple snails. Our studies reveal that, akin to humans, pax6 is indispensable for eye development in apple snails, establishing this as a research organism to unravel the mechanisms of camera-type eye regeneration. This work expands our understanding of complex sensory organ regeneration and offers a way to explore this process.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61681-6

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