Single-cell gene expression analysis reveals regulators of distinct cell subpopulations among developing human neurons.

ABSTRACT: The stochastic dynamics and regulatory mechanisms that govern differentiation of individual human neural precursor cells (NPC) into mature neurons are currently not fully understood. Here, we used single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of developing neurons to dissect/identify NPC subtypes and critical developmental stages of alternative lineage specifications. This study comprises an unsupervised, high-resolution strategy for identifying cell developmental bifurcations, tracking the stochastic transcript kinetics of the subpopulations, elucidating regulatory networks, and finding key regulators. Our data revealed the bifurcation and developmental tracks of the two NPC subpopulations, and we captured an early (24 h) transition phase that leads to alternative neuronal specifications. The co

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5668937 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature