RNA-seq analysis of Drosophila clock and non-clock neurons reveals neuron-specific cycling and novel candidate neuropeptides.
Locomotor activity rhythms are controlled by a network of ~150 circadian neurons within the adult Drosophila brain. They are subdivided based on their anatomical locations and properties. We profiled transcripts "around the clock" from three key groups of circadian neurons with different functions. We also profiled a non-circadian outgroup, dopaminergic (TH) neurons. They have cycling transcripts but fewer than clock neurons as well as low expression and poor cycling of clock gene transcripts. This suggests that TH neurons do not have a canonical circadian clock and that their gene expression cycling is driven by brain systemic cues. The three circadian groups are surprisingly diverse in their cycling transcripts and overall gene expression patterns, which include known and putative novel neuropeptides. Even the overall phase distributions of cycling transcripts are distinct, indicating that different regulatory principles govern transcript oscillations. This surprising cell-type diversity parallels the functional heterogeneity of the different neurons.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Katharine C
0000-0003-3949-3095
KC
Abruzzi
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Abigail
0000-0002-5517-4142
A
Zadina
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Weifei
W
Luo
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Evelyn
E
Wiyanto
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Reazur
R
Rahman
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Fang
F
Guo
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Orie
O
Shafer
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States of America.
Michael
0000-0003-3366-1780
M
Rosbash
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D014157:Transcription Factors; C400215:neuropeptide F, Drosophila; C096445:tim protein, Drosophila; C108498:vri protein, Drosophila