scRNA-seq of electrophysiologically characterized DRG neurons reveals subtype-specific and maturational differences in gene expression

Cultured dorsal root ganglia neurons of 4 and 12 weeks old C57Bl/6 mice were first characterized as mechanosensitive (showed rapidly adapting mechanically actived currents in whole-cell votage clamp or not (non-responders)) and as either mechanoreceptors or nociceptors (evoked action potential waveform in whole-cell current clamp). Next, cells were subjected to RNA-seq and sequences were analyzed bioinformatically. We found maturatinal changes comprising subtype-specific and age-dependent differential gene expression in these somatosensory neurons. See Michel, Niklas and Narayanan, Pratibha and Shomroni, Orr and Schmidt, Manuela, Cutaneous Touch and Piezo2-Mediated Mechanotransduction Decline Throughout Mouse Maturation Until Adulthood. CELL-REPORTS-D-20-00425. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3536401 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3536401 31 Single DRG neuron RNA profiles of 4 and 12 weeks old male WT C57Bl/6J mice, grouped by age and their electrophysiological profile