A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes
Summary: Motor neurons (MNs) constitute an ancient cell type targeted by multiple adult-onset diseases. It is therefore important to define the molecular makeup of adult MNs in animal models and extract organizing principles. Here, we generate a comprehensive molecular atlas of adult Caenorhabditis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Cell Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124724001852 |
| _version_ | 1827338148368089088 |
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| author | Jayson J. Smith Seth R. Taylor Jacob A. Blum Weidong Feng Rebecca Collings Aaron D. Gitler David M. Miller, III Paschalis Kratsios |
| author_facet | Jayson J. Smith Seth R. Taylor Jacob A. Blum Weidong Feng Rebecca Collings Aaron D. Gitler David M. Miller, III Paschalis Kratsios |
| author_sort | Jayson J. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Motor neurons (MNs) constitute an ancient cell type targeted by multiple adult-onset diseases. It is therefore important to define the molecular makeup of adult MNs in animal models and extract organizing principles. Here, we generate a comprehensive molecular atlas of adult Caenorhabditis elegans MNs and a searchable database. Single-cell RNA sequencing of 13,200 cells reveals that ventral nerve cord MNs cluster into 29 molecularly distinct subclasses. Extending C. elegans Neuronal Gene Expression Map and Network (CeNGEN) findings, all MN subclasses are delineated by distinct expression codes of either neuropeptide or transcription factor gene families. Strikingly, combinatorial codes of homeodomain transcription factor genes succinctly delineate adult MN diversity in both C. elegans and mice. Further, molecularly defined MN subclasses in C. elegans display distinct patterns of connectivity. Hence, our study couples the connectivity map of the C. elegans motor circuit with a molecular atlas of its constituent MNs and uncovers organizing principles and conserved molecular codes of adult MN diversity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:09:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-953caea15b214f369b4db238ef9ec0ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-1247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:09:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cell Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-953caea15b214f369b4db238ef9ec0ce2024-03-01T05:06:04ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472024-03-01433113857A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codesJayson J. Smith0Seth R. Taylor1Jacob A. Blum2Weidong Feng3Rebecca Collings4Aaron D. Gitler5David M. Miller, III6Paschalis Kratsios7Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL 60637, USADepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USADepartment of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL 60637, USADepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USADepartment of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USADepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; Corresponding authorDepartment of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; University of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: Motor neurons (MNs) constitute an ancient cell type targeted by multiple adult-onset diseases. It is therefore important to define the molecular makeup of adult MNs in animal models and extract organizing principles. Here, we generate a comprehensive molecular atlas of adult Caenorhabditis elegans MNs and a searchable database. Single-cell RNA sequencing of 13,200 cells reveals that ventral nerve cord MNs cluster into 29 molecularly distinct subclasses. Extending C. elegans Neuronal Gene Expression Map and Network (CeNGEN) findings, all MN subclasses are delineated by distinct expression codes of either neuropeptide or transcription factor gene families. Strikingly, combinatorial codes of homeodomain transcription factor genes succinctly delineate adult MN diversity in both C. elegans and mice. Further, molecularly defined MN subclasses in C. elegans display distinct patterns of connectivity. Hence, our study couples the connectivity map of the C. elegans motor circuit with a molecular atlas of its constituent MNs and uncovers organizing principles and conserved molecular codes of adult MN diversity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124724001852CP: Neuroscience |
| spellingShingle | Jayson J. Smith Seth R. Taylor Jacob A. Blum Weidong Feng Rebecca Collings Aaron D. Gitler David M. Miller, III Paschalis Kratsios A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes Cell Reports CP: Neuroscience |
| title | A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes |
| title_full | A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes |
| title_fullStr | A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes |
| title_short | A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes |
| title_sort | molecular atlas of adult c elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes |
| topic | CP: Neuroscience |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124724001852 |
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