Shared and divergent transcriptional programs of oligodendrocyte differentiation across vertebrate species revealed by scRNA-seq analysis
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ABSTRACT: Myelination is essential for neural function in the vertebrate central nervous system, yet the molecular details of how the oligodendrocyte differentiation program has evolved remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a cross-species single-cell transcriptomic analysis of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the spinal cord of five vertebrate species: fugu, mudskipper, chicken, mouse, and human. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed a shared OPC to COP to MOL differentiation trajectory across all species. Among stage-specific DEGs, 302 high-shared genes were organized into four co-expression modules, with 46 evolutionary core genes enriched for oligodendrocyte differentiation and Wnt signaling. Notably, 184 amniote-exclusive genes were enriched for synaptic vesicle transport and locomotory behavior, predominantly at the OPC stage, compared with only 18 teleost-exclusive genes, indicating that amniotes have expanded the oligodendrocyte differentiation program at the progenitor stage.
ORGANISM(S): Takifugu obscurus Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus Gallus gallus
PROVIDER: GSE328630 | GEO | 2026/06/03
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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