Spatial Transcriptomics of C. elegans Males and Hermaphrodites Identifies Sex-Specific Differences in Gene Expression Patterns

TY - JOUR

T1 - Spatial Transcriptomics of C. elegans Males and Hermaphrodites Identifies Sex-Specific Differences in Gene Expression Patterns

AU - Ebbing, Annabel

AU - Vértesy, Ábel

AU - Betist, Marco C

AU - Spanjaard, Bastiaan

AU - Junker, Jan Philipp

AU - Berezikov, Eugene

AU - van Oudenaarden, Alexander

AU - Korswagen, Hendrik C

N1 - Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2018/12/17

Y1 - 2018/12/17

N2 - To advance our understanding of the genetic programs that drive cell and tissue specialization, it is necessary to obtain a comprehensive overview of gene expression patterns. Here, we have used spatial transcriptomics to generate high-resolution, anteroposterior gene expression maps of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites. To explore these maps, we have developed computational methods for discovering region- and tissue-specific genes. We have found extensive sex-specific gene expression differences in the germline and sperm and discovered genes that are specifically expressed in the male reproductive tract. These include a group of uncharacterized genes that encode small secreted proteins that are required for male fertility. We conclude that spatial gene expression maps provide a powerful resource for identifying tissue-specific gene functions in C. elegans. Importantly, we found that expression maps from different animals can be precisely aligned, enabling transcriptome-wide comparisons of gene expression patterns.

AB - To advance our understanding of the genetic programs that drive cell and tissue specialization, it is necessary to obtain a comprehensive overview of gene expression patterns. Here, we have used spatial transcriptomics to generate high-resolution, anteroposterior gene expression maps of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites. To explore these maps, we have developed computational methods for discovering region- and tissue-specific genes. We have found extensive sex-specific gene expression differences in the germline and sperm and discovered genes that are specifically expressed in the male reproductive tract. These include a group of uncharacterized genes that encode small secreted proteins that are required for male fertility. We conclude that spatial gene expression maps provide a powerful resource for identifying tissue-specific gene functions in C. elegans. Importantly, we found that expression maps from different animals can be precisely aligned, enabling transcriptome-wide comparisons of gene expression patterns.

U2 - 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.016

DO - 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.016

M3 - Article

C2 - 30416013

SN - 1534-5807

VL - 47

SP - 801-813.e6

JO - Developmental Cell

JF - Developmental Cell

IS - 6

ER -