title: Single-Cell mRNA Profiling Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Expression of Neurexin Isoforms.
abstract: Neurexins are considered central organizers of synapse architecture that are implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. Expression of neurexins in hundreds of alternatively spliced isoforms suggested that individual neurons might exhibit a cell-type-specific neurexin expression pattern (a neurexin code). To test this hypothesis, we quantified the single-cell levels of neurexin isoforms and other trans-synaptic cell-adhesion molecules by microfluidics-based RT-PCR. We show that the neurexin repertoire displays pronounced cell-type specificity that is remarkably consistent within each type of neuron. Furthermore, we uncovered region-specific regulation of neurexin transcription and splice-site usage. Finally, we demonstrate that the transcriptional profiles of neurexins can be altered in an experience-dependent fashion by exposure to a drug of abuse. Our data provide evidence of cell-type-specific expression patterns of multiple neurexins at the single-cell level and suggest that expression of synaptic cell-adhesion molecules overlaps with other key features of cellular identity and diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: fuccillo@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Marc V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Fuccillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Földy
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Özgün
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Gökce
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.affiliation: Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Gordon L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Malenka
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: tcs1@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Südhof
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D059467:Transcriptome; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010320:Parvalbumins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002766:Cholecystokinin