Analysis of Genome-Wide Monoallelic Expression Patterns in Three Major Cell Types of Mouse Visual Cortex Using Laser Capture Microdissection Chia-Yi Lin Shih-Chuan Huang Chun-Che Tung Chih-Hsuan Chou Susan Shur-Fen Gau Hsien-Sung Huang 10.1371/journal.pone.0163663 https://plos.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Analysis_of_Genome-Wide_Monoallelic_Expression_Patterns_in_Three_Major_Cell_Types_of_Mouse_Visual_Cortex_Using_Laser_Capture_Microdissection/3857598 <div><p>Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism causing monoallelic expression in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Disruption of imprinted genes causes various neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the role of imprinted genes in the brain is largely unknown. Different cell types within distinct brain regions can influence the genomic imprinting status, but imprinted genes in single cell types within distinct brain regions have not been characterized on a genome-wide scale. To address this critical question, we used a multi-stage approach, which combined genetically engineered mice with fluorescence-based laser capture microdissection (LCM) to capture excitatory neurons, inhibitory neurons and astrocytes as single cells in layer 2/3 of mouse visual cortex. RNA sequencing determined parental expression patterns on a genome-wide scale in the captured cells within specific brain regions. The expression level of cell-type-specific genes for excitatory neurons (13 genes), inhibitory neurons (16 genes) and astrocytes (20 genes) confirmed the LCM-captured cells maintained their cellular identities. The parent-of-origin-specific expression pattern of imprinted genes, including maternally expressed <i>Meg3</i> and paternally expressed <i>Peg3</i>, provided evidence that the status of known imprinted genes was also maintained. Although our platform remains to be improved, our findings demonstrate the parental expression pattern can be analysed not only at the level of a single cell type but also at the level of specific cortical layers. Our approach has the potential to reveal novel regulatory modules associated with plasticity through genomic imprinting mechanisms in different cell types, not only in the visual cortex but also in other brain regions.</p></div> 2016-09-23 17:39:43 genomic imprinting mechanisms parent-of-origin-specific expression pattern Laser Capture Microdissection Genomic imprinting brain regions RNA LCM Genome-Wide Monoallelic Expression Patterns genomic imprinting status neuron genome-wide scale cell types Different cell types gene Major Cell Types