Spatially resolved single-cell atlas reveals the macroevolutionary trajectory of animal hearts.

Shanshan Lian; Wei Wang; Yaoxin Liu; Meina Lu; Wentao Han; Jiaxin Luo; Xuejiao Zhang; Yue Pang; Yuru Li; Yufeng Li; Xin Dang; Peiyan Wang; Yating Qin; Ning Tan; Fang Zhang; Jin Zhang; Shuai Gao; Runyi Zhang; Lidong Guo; Lei Jiang; Pengchong Zhang; Yuehuan Zhang; Zhe Qu; Shanshan Pan; Yue Zhang; Naina Hu; Yadong Chen; Yun Cao; Wenbin Li; Xiaomei Chen; Junjie Shi; Shuaiqi Yang; Yiran Li; Qiuyun Song; Lisui Bao; Yuli Li; Xiawei Liu; Jing Wang; Lingling Zhang; Rui Li; Xin Yu; Tao Yang; Jing Chen; Ling Li; Mengqi Zhang; Lei Li; Ruihua Zhang; Hongyan Li; Ying Gu; Xun Xu; Huanming Yang; Zhenmin Bao; C Geoffrey Burns; Caroline E Burns; Robert G Kelly; Jianxun Wang; Yang Zhao; Ying Su; Guangyi Fan; Qun Liu; Shi Wang; Ji-Feng Fei; Silin Pan; Long Zhao

doi:10.1126/science.adw0855

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Spatially resolved single-cell atlas reveals the macroevolutionary trajectory of animal hearts.

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Abstract

Animal hearts display diverse anatomical structures during adaptive evolution. Here, we present a multiomics atlas of adult hearts from 27 species across chordates, arthropods, and mollusks. Joint analysis indicates that Bilateria hearts share a core gene repertoire, taking a stepwise "add-on" approach as a universal evolutionary strategy. The "proto-heart" is populated by key cell types, including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and neural cells, which maintained core signatures while evolving with shifts in living environments and corresponding adaptations in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, we reveal an evolutionarily conserved cardiomyocyte state dynamic potentially linked to cardiac development and stress responses. Finally, we identify a common molecular program underpinning chamber evolution from a ventricular foundation. This work establishes a resource for understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of heart evolution.

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Animals Biological Evolution Multiomics Myocardium Myocytes, Cardiac Atlases as Topic Humans Mice Species Specificity Transcriptome Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis Journal Article

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Shanshan Lian, Wei Wang, Yaoxin Liu, Meina Lu, Wentao Han, Jiaxin Luo, Xuejiao Zhang, Yue Pang, Yuru Li, Yufeng Li, Xin Dang, Peiyan Wang, Yating Qin, Ning Tan, Fang Zhang, Jin Zhang, Shuai Gao, Runyi Zhang, Lidong Guo, Lei Jiang, Pengchong Zhang, Yuehuan Zhang, Zhe Qu, Shanshan Pan, Yue Zhang, Naina Hu, Yadong Chen, Yun Cao, Wenbin Li, Xiaomei Chen, Junjie Shi, Shuaiqi Yang, Yiran Li, Qiuyun Song, Lisui Bao, Yuli Li, Xiawei Liu, Jing Wang, Lingling Zhang, Rui Li, Xin Yu, Tao Yang, Jing Chen, Ling Li, Mengqi Zhang, Lei Li, Ruihua Zhang, Hongyan Li, Ying Gu, Xun Xu, Huanming Yang, Zhenmin Bao, C Geoffrey Burns, Caroline E Burns, Robert G Kelly, Jianxun Wang, Yang Zhao, Ying Su, Guangyi Fan, Qun Liu, Shi Wang, Ji-Feng Fei, Silin Pan, Long Zhao. 2026-09-03. Spatially resolved single-cell atlas reveals the macroevolutionary trajectory of animal hearts.. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adw0855

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