Functional analysis of gene modules associated with hair cell conversion.

(A) Gene ontology (GO) analysis of genes in the blue module (SC—cHC1) showed enrichment of biological processes related to early-stage hair cell development, such as Notch signaling pathway, regulation of mechanoreceptor differentiation, and epithelial proliferation (B) GO analysis of the red module (cHC1—cHC2) revealed pathways related to organ growth and morphogenesis, cell and tissue migration, indicating the dynamic regulation of conversion-associated genes in this middle stage. (C) GO analysis of the yellow module (cHC1—cHC2) showed enrichment of genes associated with similar processes as the red module, supporting their potential role in the middle stage of hair cell conversion. (D) GO analysis of the turquoise module (cHC2 –cHC3) suggested pathways such as synapse organization and neuroepithelial cell differentiation, indicating their potential role in the later stages of hair cell conversion. (ZIP)