A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of sensory-dependent gene expression in developing mouse visual cortex

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Postnatal brain development relies on sensory experience to mature neural circuits.
• The precise molecular mechanisms underlying sensory-dependent circuit remodeling are not fully understood.
• Gene expression changes driven by sensory input are hypothesized to mediate circuit refinement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify genes regulated by sensory experience in the developing mouse visual cortex.
• To investigate the cell-type-specific transcriptional responses to sensory input or deprivation.
• To uncover molecular mediators of sensory-dependent synaptic development and circuit wiring.

Main Methods:

• Generated a single-nucleus RNA sequencing dataset from mouse visual cortex.
• Analyzed transcriptional responses in 118,529 nuclei across 16 cell types.
• Compared gene expression profiles from control, sensory-deprived, and sensory-stimulated mice.

Main Results:

• Identified 1268 sensory-induced genes in the developing brain.
• Observed robust transcriptomic changes in layer 2/3 excitatory neurons.
• Discovered that sensory-induced genes in these neurons enhance synapse-to-nucleus communication and axon guidance.

Conclusions:

• Sensory experience profoundly influences gene expression in the developing visual cortex.
• Layer 2/3 excitatory neurons are key players in sensory-driven circuit maturation.
• This dataset provides insights into the molecular basis of how sensory input shapes neural circuit wiring.