Defining developmental diversification of diencephalon neurons through single-cell gene expression profiling
The embryonic diencephalon gives rise to diverse neuronal cell types, which form complex integration center and intricate relay station of the vertebrate forebrain. Prior anecdotal gene expression studies have revealed several developmental compartments in the diencephalon. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to profile transcriptomes of dissociated cells from the diencephalon of E12.5 mouse embryos. Using unbiased transcriptional data, we identified the divergence of different progenitors, intermediate progenitors, and emerging neuronal cell types. We mapped these identified cell groups to their spatial origins, allowing the characterization of the molecular features across different cell types and cell states that arise from different diencephalic compartments. Furthermore, we reconstructed developmental trajectories of different cell lineages of the diencephalon. This led to identification of the genetic cascades and gene regulatory networks underlying the progression of the cell cycle, neurogenesis, and cellular diversification. The analysis provides new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the specification and amplification of thalamic progenitor cells. In addition, the single-cell-resolved trajectories not only confirm a close relationship between the rostral thalamus and prethalamus, but also uncover an unexpected close relationship between the caudal thalamus, epithalamus and rostral pretectum. Our data provide a useful resource for systematic study of cell heterogeneity and differentiation kinetics within the diencephalon.
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Defining developmental diversification of diencephalon neurons through single-cell gene expression profiling
Guo, Q. and Li, J. Y. H. (2018)