Dataset Information

The emergence of transcriptional identity in somatosensory neurons

ABSTRACT: Primary somatosensory neurons are diverse neurons that report salient features of our internal and external environments. How specialized gene expression programs emerge during development to endow each somatosensory neuron subtype with unique properties is unclear. To analyze the developmental progression of transcriptional maturation of each principal somatosensory neuron subtype, we generated a transcriptomic atlas of cells traversing the somatosensory lineage. We find that somatosensory neurogenesis leads to neurons in a transcriptionally unspecialized state, characterized by trace expression of subtype-specific genes yet co-expression of transcription factors (TFs) that become restricted to select subtypes as development proceeds. Single cell transcriptomic analysis using sensory neurons from mutant mice lacking representative broad-to-restricted TFs revealed that they are essential for establishing subtype specific gene programs in subtypes where their expression is maintained, while leaving other subtypes unaffected. We also identify a role for neuronal targets by demonstrating that nerve growth factor influences subtype-restricted patterns of TFs. Our findings support a model in which extrinsic cues orchestrate somatosensory neuron diversification by influencing the expression pattern of TFs that promote transcriptional specialization of somatosensory neuron subtypes.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE139088 | GEO | 2019/10/19

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Sensory neurons are distinguished by distinct signaling networks and receptive characteristics. Thus, sensory neuron types can be defined by linking transcriptome-based neuron typing with the sensory phenotypes. Here we classify somatosensory neurons of the mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) by high-coverage single-cell RNA-sequencing (10 950 Â± 1 218 genes per neuron) and neuron size-based hierarchical clustering. Moreover, single DRG neurons responding to cutaneous stimuli are recorded using an in vivo whole-cell patch clamp technique and classified by neuron-type genetic markers. Small diameter DRG neurons are classified into one type of low-threshold mechanoreceptor and five types of mechanoheat nociceptors (MHNs). Each of the MHN types is further categorized into two subtypes. Large DRG neurons are categorized into four types, including neurexophilin 1-expressing MHNs and mechanical nociceptors (MNs) expressing BAI1-associated protein 2-like 1 (Baiap2l1). Mechanoreceptors expressing trafficking protein particle complex 3-like and Baiap2l1-marked MNs are subdivided into two subtypes each. These results provide a new system for cataloging somatosensory neurons and their transcriptome databases. RNA-seq of mRNA levels in 197 individual DRG neurons We performed RNA-seq on total 203 individual DRG neurons. Six of them were not qualified and thus, were excluded for further analysis. To evaluate the quality of RNA-seq, we randomly devided No.72 neurons into two parts and performed RNA-seq seperately. Thus, we had 204 individual samples from 203 individual DRG and 198 individual qualified samples from 197 individual DRG. To evaluate the homogeneity of RNA-seq data from different mice at the same age just as used, we performed RNA-seq on 5 single DRG from different mice. Here, these data from DRG were also considered as experimental control. The 'DRG_neurons_RNA_Seq.txt' contains processed data for 204 samples and 'DRG_RNA_Seq.txt' for 5 samples.

Dataset Information

The emergence of transcriptional identity in somatosensory neurons

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure