Molecular anatomy of the thalamic complex and the underlying transcription factors

Brain Struct Funct. 2016 Jun;221(5):2493-510. doi: 10.1007/s00429-015-1052-5. Epub 2015 May 12.

Abstract

Thalamocortical loops have been implicated in the control of higher-order cognitive functions, but advances in our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of neocortical organization have not been accompanied by similar analyses in the thalamus. Using expression-based correlation maps and the manual mapping of mouse and human datasets available in the Allen Brain Atlas, we identified a few individual regions and several sets of molecularly related nuclei that partially overlap with the classic grouping that is based on topographical localization and thalamocortical connections. These new molecular divisions of the adult thalamic complex are defined by the combinatorial expression of Tcf7l2, Lef1, Gbx2, Prox1, Pou4f1, Esrrg, and Six3 transcription factor genes. Further in silico and experimental analyses provided the evidence that TCF7L2 might be a pan-thalamic specifier. These results provide substantial insights into the "molecular logic" that underlies organization of the thalamic complex.

Keywords: Brain anatomy; Genoarchitecture; TCF7L2; Thalamus; Transcription factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atlases as Topic
  • Databases, Chemical
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Homeobox Protein SIX3
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / genetics
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Thalamic Nuclei / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / genetics
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3A / genetics
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3A / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • ESRRG protein, human
  • Eye Proteins
  • GBX2 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • LEF1 protein, human
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • POU4F1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3A
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • prospero-related homeobox 1 protein