R-loop landscapes in the developing human brain are linked to neural differentiation and cell type-specific transcription [hiPSC-derived neuron DRIP-seq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Here, we construct genome-scale maps for R-loops, three-stranded nucleic acid structures comprised of a DNA/RNA hybrid and a displaced single strand of DNA, in the proliferative and differentiated zones of the human prenatal brain. We show that R-loops are abundant in the progenitor-rich germinal matrix, with preferential formation at promoters slated for upregulated expression at later stages of differentiation, including numerous neurodevelopmental risk genes. RNase H1-mediated contraction of the genomic R-loop space in neural progenitors shifted differentiation toward the neuronal lineage and was associated with transcriptomic alterations and defective functional and structural neuronal connectivity in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, we conclude that R-loops are important for fine-tuning differentiation-sensitive gene expression programs of neural progenitor cells.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE324290 | GEO | 2026/05/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA