Uncovering the transcriptional signatures of hub connectivity in neural networks

Abstract

Connections in nervous systems are disproportionately concentrated on a small subset of neural elements that act as network hubs. Hubs have been found across different of species and scales ranging from C.elegans to mouse, rat, cat, macaque and human, suggesting a role for genetic influences. The recent availability of brain-wide gene expression atlases provides new opportunities for mapping the transcriptional correlates of large-scale network-level phenotypes. Here we review studies that use these atlases to investigate gene expression patterns associated with hub connectivity in neural networks and present evidence that some of these patterns are conserved across species and scales.

Uncovering the genetic blueprint of theC. elegansnervous system

“…These advances have prompted the development of statistical approaches designed to identify genes involved in neuronal connectivity. At coarser spatial scales, where collections of spatially proximal neurons are profiled together, data availability has led to the development of correlative and predictive approaches that connect regional gene expression and connectivity in the mouse brain (25,26). At the neuronal scale, Kaufman et al (27) demonstrated a correlation between gene expression and neuronal connectivity, and Varadan et al (28) identified a genetic rule for chemical synapses through an entropy mini-mization approach.…”