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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.07.02.184549

A multi-informatic description of neural differentiation in the Drosophila type-II neuroblast lineages

Michki, N. S.·Li, Y.·Sanjasaz, K.·Zhao, Y.·Shen, F. Y.·Walker, L. A.·Lee, C.-Y.·Cai, D.
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Abstract

To adopt terminal neural fates, neural progenitors respond to a combination of molecular factors, the interplay between which remains difficult to untangle. In this work, we interrogated the type-II neuroblast lineages in the developing Drosophila brain using targeted single-cell mRNA sequencing. We used pseudotime analysis to group cells by their differentiation state and subsequently used marker gene analysis to identify genes that may play a role in neural fate specification. To aid the candidate gene selection process, we created MiCV, a scRNA-seq data visualization web tool that integrates results from the multifaceted analysis, displays the co-expression pattern of multiple genes, and provides an automated gene function curating feature. In situ profiling of these mRNAs further recovered the spatial information lacking in the single-cell data. Combining prior knowledge, in silico analysis, and in situ evidence, we characterize the molecular landscape of the developing Drosophila type-II neuroblast lineages and provide a roadmap for navigating the more complex brains.

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Michki, N. S., Li, Y., Sanjasaz, K., Zhao, Y., Shen, F. Y., Walker, L. A., Lee, C.-Y., Cai, D.. 2020-07-02. A multi-informatic description of neural differentiation in the Drosophila type-II neuroblast lineages. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.02.184549

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