A molecular atlas of adult C. elegans motor neurons reveals ancient diversity delineated by conserved transcription factor codes
Year: 2023
Type: preprint
Abstract: ABSTRACT Motor neurons (MNs) constitute an ancient cell type targeted by multiple adult-onset diseases. It is therefore important to define the molecular makeup of adult MNs in animal models and extract organizing principles. Here, we generated a comprehensive molecular atlas of adult Caenorhabditis elegans MNs and a searchable database ( http://celegans.spinalcordatlas.org ). Single-cell RNA-sequencing of 13,200 cells revealed that ventral nerve cord MNs cluster into 29 molecularly distinct subclasses. All subclasses are delineated by unique expression codes of either neuropeptide or transcription factor gene families. Strikingly, we found that combinatorial codes of homeodomain transcription factor genes define adult MN diversity both in C. elegans and mice. Further, molecularly defined MN subclasses in C. elegans display distinct patterns of connectivity. Hence, our study couples the connectivity map of the C. elegans motor circuit with a molecular atlas of its constituent MNs, and uncovers organizing principles and conserved molecular codes of adult MN diversity.
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Molecular mechanisms for neuron-specific assembly of electrical synapses, Molecular mechanisms of motor neuron terminal identity, Identification of the transcriptional targets of three conserved regulatory factors necessary for motor neuron subtype function - Resubmission 01, Hox-dependent mechanisms for establishment and maintenance of motor neuron terminal identity, G406168540, Molecular Genetics of Synaptic Plasticity, G9000028377, Cancer Center Support Grant, Caenorhabditis Genetics Center, Neuroscience Research Training, Discovery and analysis of the C. elegans neuronal gene expression network (CeNGEN)
OpenAlex ID: W4385612177