Human-specific features of spatial gene expression and regulation in eight brain regions

• DOI: 10.1101/gr.231357.117
• Publication Date: 2018-06-13T20:55:13Z
• Authors: Chuan Xu; Qian Li; Olga Efimova; Liu He; Shoji Tatsumoto; Vita Stepanova; Takao Oishi; Toshifumi Udono; Katsushi Yamaguchi; Shuji Shigenobu; Akiyoshi Kakita; Hiroyuki Nawa; Philipp Khaitovich; Yasuhiro Go
• Keywords: Human brain

Molecular maps of the human brain alone do not inform us features unique to humans. Yet, identification these is important for understanding both evolution and nature cognition. Here, we approached this question by analyzing gene expression H3K27ac chromatin modification data collected in eight regions humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, a gibbon, macaques. An analysis spatial transcriptome trajectories across four primate species revealed 1851 genes showing human-specific differences one or multiple regions, contrast 240 chimpanzee-specific differences. More than half represented elevated enriched neuronal astrocytic markers hippocampus, whereas rest were microglial displayed several frontal cortical cerebellum. predicted regulatory interactions driving role transcription factors species-specific changes, epigenetic modifications linked conserved species.