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A rat RNA-Seq transcriptomic BodyMap across 11 organs and 4 developmental stages.
Ying Yu1, James C Fuscoe2, Chen Zhao3
11] Center for Pharmacogenomics, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Schools of Life Sciences and Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China [2].
Nature Communications
|February 11, 2014
Summary
Researchers created a comprehensive rat transcriptome map, cataloging gene expression across 11 organs and multiple ages. This rat BodyMap provides a valuable resource for understanding gene expression in biomedical research.
Area of Science:
- Genomics and Transcriptomics
- Comparative Genomics
- Biomedical Research Models
Background:
- Rats are crucial models for toxicology and drug mechanism studies.
- A comprehensive transcriptome atlas across rat organs and developmental stages was previously lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a comprehensive rat transcriptomic BodyMap.
- To catalogue gene and transcript expression profiles across diverse rat samples.
- To establish an open-access database for the scientific community.
Main Methods:
- RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on 320 samples.
- Samples included 11 organs from both sexes across juvenile, adolescent, adult, and aged Fischer 344 rats.
- Gene and transcript expression data were annotated using AceView.
Main Results:
- Catalogued expression profiles for 40,064 genes, 65,167 transcripts, 31,909 alternatively spliced variants, and 2,367 non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
- Identified organ-enriched genes reflecting known organ-specific functions.
- Observed numerous organ-specific, age-dependent, and sex-specific differential expression patterns.
Conclusions:
- The rat BodyMap provides a detailed view of gene expression across multiple rat tissues and life stages.
- The database reveals significant organ-specific, age-dependent, and sex-specific transcriptomic variations.
- This resource is anticipated to significantly advance biomedical research utilizing the rat model.
