Transcriptome of Fetal Cortex of Tree Shrew Underlying the Emergence and Evolution of Outer Subventricular Zone [TSlayer_RNAseq]

ABSTRACT: A defining feature of primates is the expansion and increased complexity of the cerebral cortex, processes that are largely associated with evolutionary adaptations of neural progenitor-enriched outer subventricular zone (OSVZ). Yet, the genetic mechanisms underlying the emergence of OSVZ remain unknown. The tree shrew is an extremely well-suited species to investigate this question. In addition to being a closer outgroup of primates than rodents are, its brain exhibits an intermediate phenotype; while being lissencephalic (smooth) similar to the mouse brain, it nonetheless possesses the OSVZ. Here, we applied laser micro-dissection technology to conduct comprehensive gene expression analysis in different cortical layers of tree shrew brain across three key developmental stages. We discovered distinctive gene expression profiles in different cortical layers, including those enriched in synapse-related-pathways in CP, VZ and ISVZ, while OSVZ exhibited unique enrichment in neurogenesis processes related genes. Utilizing a comparative transcriptome approach, we show that cell-cycle related genes are already involved in tree shrew OSVZ. On the other hand, extra-cellular-matrix (ECM) associated pathways appear unique to primate OSVZ. These novel results begin to reveal the shared genetic toolkit underlying the evolution of OSVZ. Furthermore, we discovered distinctive expression patterns of several zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) that are shared between tree shrew and primate OSVZ, indicating their significance in the evolution of OSVZ. As a proof-of-concept, overexpression ZNF664 significantly increased the proliferation of progenitors in the mouse sub-ventricular zone. Together, these results reveal the shared molecular basis of OSVZ between primates and tree shrew, providing an innovative insight into the brain complexification in primates.

ORGANISM(S): Tupaia belangeri chinensis

PROVIDER: GSE318518 | GEO | 2026/08/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO