Functional and Evolutionary Insights Into Human Brain Development Through Global Transcriptome Analysis. Entered into GeneNetwork, Jul 2011):
Please review and cite: Johnson MB, Kawasawa YI, Mason CE, Krsnik Z, Coppola G, Bogdanović D, Geschwind DH, Mane SM, State MW, Sestan N (2009) Functional and evolutionary insights into human brain development through global transcriptome analysis.. Neuron 62: 494–509.
Exon Array expression data from 13 areas of the late second trimester human brain. Our understanding of the evolution, formation, and pathological disruption of human brain circuits is impeded by a lack of comprehensive data on the developing brain transcriptome. Thus, we have undertaken whole-genome, exon-level expression analysis of thirteen regions from left and right sides of the mid-fetal human brain, finding 76% of genes to be expressed, and 44% of these to be differentially regulated. These data reveal a large number of specific gene expression and alternative splicing patterns, as well as co-expression networks, associated with distinct regions and neurodevelopmental processes. Of particular relevance to cognitive specializations, we have characterized the transcriptional landscapes of prefrontal cortex and perisylvian speech and language areas, which exhibit a population-level global expression symmetry. Finally, we show that differentially expressed genes are more frequently associated with human-specific evolution of putative cis-regulatory elements. Altogether, these data provide a wealth of novel biological insights into the complex transcriptional and molecular underpinnings of human brain development and evolution.
Summary from GEO Series: GSE13344 "Tissue was microdissected from 13 regions, including 9 distinct neocortical areas, from both left and right sides of four late second trimester human brain specimens. Gene- and exon-level differential expression analyses were performed by mixed model, nested analysis of variance using the XRAY software from Biotique Systems. Further details available in Johnson, Kawasawa, et al., "Functional and Evolutionary Insights into Human Brain Development through Global Transcriptome Analysis" Neuron, Volume 62, Issue 4, 2009"