Spatiotemporal gene expression patterns reveal molecular relatedness between retinal laminae. Issue 5 (31st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Danye; Burger, Courtney A.; Casasent, Anna K.; Albrecht, Nicholas E.; Li, Fenge; Samuel, Melanie A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of comparative neurology. Volume 528:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 729
• Page End: 755
• Publication Date: 2019-10-31
• Subjects: development -- ganglion cells -- lamination -- neuron -- retina; Comparative neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/cne.24784
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9967

Abstract

Abstract: In several areas of the central nervous system, neurons are regionally organized into groups or layers that carry out specific activities. In this form of patterning, neurons of distinct types localize their cell bodies to just one or a few of the layers within a structure. However, little is known about whether diverse neuron types within a lamina share molecular features that coordinate their organization. To begin to identify such candidates, we used the laminated murine retina to screen 92 lacZ reporter lines available through the Knockout Mouse Project. Thirty‐two of these displayed reporter expression in restricted subsets of inner retina neurons. We then identified the spatiotemporal expression patterns of these genes at key developmental stages. This uncovered several that were heavily enriched in development but reduced in adulthood, including the transcriptional regulator Hmga1 . An additional set of genes displayed maturation associated laminar enrichment. Among these, we identified Bbox1 as a novel gene that specifically labels all neurons in the ganglion cell layer but is largely excluded from otherwise molecularly similar neurons in the inner retina. Finally, we established Dbn1 as a new marker enriched in amacrines and Fmnl3 as a marker for subsets of αRGCs. Together, these data provide a spatiotemporal map for laminae‐specific molecules and suggest that diverse neuron types within a lamina share coordinating molecular features that may inform their fate or function. Abstract : In particular regions of the central nervous system, neurons can be organized into groups or layers termed lamina. However, little is known about the molecular features that coordinate this organization. To identify such molecules, we used murine retina to screen lacZ reporter lines from the Knockout Mouse Project and identified 32 genes that display expression in laminar‐restricted neuron subsets. We then mapped the spatiotemporal expression patterns of these genes and identified four new neuron and lamina‐specific molecules. Together, these data suggest that diverse neuron types within a lamina share coordinating molecular features that may influence their organization.