A chronological expression profile of gene activity during embryonic mouse brain development

The brain is a functionally complex organ, the patterning and development of which are key to adult health. To help elucidate the genetic networks underlying mammalian brain patterning we conducted detailed transcriptional profiling during embryonic development of the mouse brain. 2400 genes were identified as showing differential expression between three developmental stages. Analysis of the data identified nine gene clusters to demonstrate analogous expression profiles. A significant group of novel genes of as yet undiscovered biological function were detected, as being potentially relevant to brain development and function, in addition to genes that have previously identified roles in the brain. Analysis of left-right asymmetry of expression revealed 35 genes as putatively asymmetric from a combined data set. Our data constitutes a valuable new resource for neuroscience and neuro-development, exposing possible functional associations between genes, including novel loci, and encouraging their further investigation in human neurological and behavioural disorders. Whole genome transcriptional profiling carried out on 24 samples during 3 stages of embryonic development of the mouse brain was carried out with matching left-right asymmetry on four biological replicates at each stage.大脑是功能高度复杂的器官，其模式形成与发育过程对成年个体健康至关重要。为阐明调控哺乳动物大脑模式形成的遗传网络机制，本研究针对小鼠大脑胚胎发育阶段开展了全面的转录组分析（transcriptional profiling）。研究共鉴定出2400个在三个发育阶段存在差异表达的基因。数据分析共得到9个表达谱相似的基因簇。除此前已被证实参与大脑发育与功能的基因外，本研究还检测到大量功能尚未阐明的新型基因，这些基因可能与大脑发育及功能存在潜在关联。对基因表达的左右不对称性分析显示，基于整合数据集，共有35个基因呈现出潜在的不对称表达特征。本研究数据集为神经科学及神经发育领域提供了极具价值的全新资源，不仅揭示了包括新型基因位点在内的基因间潜在功能关联，还推动相关基因在人类神经系统疾病与行为障碍领域的后续研究。本研究针对小鼠大脑胚胎发育的3个阶段共采集24份样本，开展全基因组转录组分析（whole genome transcriptional profiling），并对每个阶段的4份生物学重复样本进行了对应性的左右不对称性检测。