Laminar and Temporal Expression Dynamics of Coding and Noncoding RNAs in the Mouse Neocortex. Mus musculus

The hallmark of the cerebral neocortex is its organization into six distinct layers, each containing a characteristic set of neural cell types and synaptic connections. The transcriptional events involved in laminar development and function still remain elusive. Here we employed deep sequencing of mRNA and small RNA species to gain insights into transcriptional differences among layers and their temporal dynamics during postnatal development of the mouse primary somatosensory neocortex. A number of novel coding and noncoding transcripts were identified with specific spatiotemporal expression and splicing patterns across layers or time points. We also identified gene co-expression networks associated with distinct biological processes and transcriptional sharing between distinct biological processes, as well as, potential microRNA and mRNA interactions. Overall, this study provides an integrated view of the laminar and temporal expression dynamics of coding and noncoding transcripts in the mouse neocortex and a resource for future studies of neurodevelopment and transcriptome.