title: Genetic Labeling of Nuclei-Specific Thalamocortical Neurons Reveals Putative Sensory-Modality Specific Genes.
abstract: The thalamus is a central brain structure with topographically ordered long-range axonal projections that convey sensory information to the cortex via distinct nuclei. Although there is an increasing knowledge about genes important for thalamocortical (TC) development, the identification of genetic landmarks of the distinct thalamic nuclei during the embryonic development has not been addressed systematically. Indeed, a more comprehensive understanding of how the axons from the individual nuclei find their way and connect to their corresponding cortical area is called for. Here, we used a genetic dual labeling strategy in mice to purify distinct principal sensory thalamic neurons. Subsequent genome-wide transcriptome profiling revealed genes specifically expressed in each nucleus during embryonic development. Analysis of regulatory regions of the identified genes revealed key transcription factors and networks that likely underlie the specification of individual sensory-modality TC connections. Finally, the importance of correct axon targeting for the specific sensory-modality population transcriptome was evidenced in a Sema6A mutant, in which visual TC axons are derailed at embryonic life. In sum, our data determined the developmental transcriptional profile of the TC neurons that will eventually support sensory processing.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gezelius
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moreno-Juan
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.|Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mezzera
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thakurela
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Miguel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Malmierca
authors.affiliation: EMBL, GeneCore, Meyerhofstr. 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pistolic
authors.affiliation: EMBL, GeneCore, Meyerhofstr. 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Vijay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Bendito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: C513182:Gbx2 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C504203:Sema6a protein, mouse; D039961:Semaphorins
keywords: brain development; gene expression; regional patterning; sensory system; thalamus