Project description:We use comprehensive and unsupervised transcriptome analyses to provide molecular classifications of sensory neurons in the mouse geniculate ganglion. 96 neurons were isolated on a C1 Fluodigm chip, underwent RNA-Seq, and iteratively clustered into sub-classes.
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.
Project description:The objective of the study was to identify molecules that are selectively expressed in proprioceptive sensory neurons (pSNs) in DRG. To try to achieve this goal, we performed RNAseq on genetically identified and FACS purified cohorts that either contained i) pSNs and rapidly-adapting low threshold mechanoreceptors (RA-LTMRs), iI) pSNs and slowly-adapting (SA)-LTMRs, or RA-LTMRs only. Differential expression analysis between these different sensory neuron cohorts identified multiple proprioceptor enriched transcripts.
Project description:During development neurons achieve a high degree of specialization (Fishell and Heintz, 2013). Over time, while continuously recycling their components and despite transcriptional noise, their own respective properties remain intact. The transcription factors that play a large role in initially establishing neuronal identity can be required for maintaining it (Deneris and Hobert, 2014). Post-transcriptional regulation is also important to differentiation (Bian and Sun, 2011) but its role in maintaining cell identity is less established. To better understand how post-transcriptional regulation might contribute to cell identity, we examined the proprioceptive neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a highly specialized sensory class, whose properties are well established and display clear differences when compared to other neurons in the ganglion. By conditionally ablating Dicer in mice, using a parvalbumin (Pvalb) driven cre, we impaired post-transcriptional regulation in the proprioceptive sensory neuron population. KO animals display a progressive form of ataxia at the beginning of the fourth postnatal week that is mirrored by a cell-death within the DRG. Before cell-loss, expression profiling shows a reduction of proprioceptor specific genes and an increased expression of non-proprioceptive genes normally enriched in other ganglion neurons. Furthermore, although central connections of these neurons are intact, the peripheral connections to the muscle are functionally impaired. Post-transcriptional regulation is therefore necessary to retain the transcriptional identity and support functional specialization of the proprioceptive sensory neurons.