Rapid Body-Wide Transcriptomic Turnover During Rhesus Macaque Perinatal Development.
Wenqian Zhang1, Wei Wang2, Manman Zhao3
1School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China.
Frontiers in Physiology
|June 28, 2021
Summary
A molecular hourglass pattern was found in primate brain development, with a gene expression peak around birth. This regulatory pattern extends to other organs, highlighting coordinated perinatal development across species.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
- Primate Research
Background:
- A conserved "hourglass" gene expression pattern is observed during vertebrate development.
- In primates, a peak of temporally differentially expressed genes occurs around birth in the human brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of this gene expression peak across species.
- To confirm the presence of this regulatory pattern in non-human primates and other organs.
Main Methods:
- Integration of large-scale transcriptome data from rhesus macaques.
- Comparative analysis of gene expression patterns during organ development.
Main Results:
- A similar differential gene expression peak was confirmed in the developing macaque brain.
- This peak was also identified in the development of liver, testis, kidney, and heart tissues.
- Distinct regulatory pathways were associated with the peak expression periods in different organs.
Conclusions:
- The molecular hourglass pattern is conserved in primate brain development and extends to other organs.
- Co-evolution of diverse organs during critical perinatal periods is crucial in primates.
