Comparison of melanoblast expression patterns identifies distinct classes of genes.
A full understanding of transcriptional regulation requires integration of information obtained from multiple experimental datasets. These include datasets annotating gene expression within the context of an entire organism under normal and genetically perturbed conditions. Here we describe an expression dataset annotating pigment cell-expressed genes of the developing melanocyte and retinal pigmented epithelium lineages. Expression images are annotated and available at http://research.nhgri.nih.gov/manuscripts/Loftus/March2009/. Data are also summarized in a standardized manner using a universal melanoblast scoring scale that accounts for the embryonic location of cells and regional cell density. This approach allowed us to classify 14 pigment genes into four groupings classified by cell lineage expression, temporal-spatial context, and differential alteration in response to altered MITF and SOX10 status. Significant differences in regional populations were also observed across inbred strain backgrounds, highlighting the value of this approach to identify modifier allele influences on melanoblast number and distributions. This analysis revealed novel features of in vivo expression patterns that are not measurable by in vitro-based assays, providing data that in combination with genomic analyses will allow modeling of pigment cell gene expression in development and disease.
Loftus
Stacie K
SK
National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, Genetic Disease Research Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA. sloftus@mail.nih.gov
Baxter
Laura L
LL
Buac
Kristina
K
Watkins-Chow
Dawn E
DE
Larson
Denise M
DM
Pavan
William J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C497235:Mitf protein, mouse; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; C527924:Sox10 protein, mouse