TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS OF MAMMALIAN SPINAL NEURULATION

Abstract

Neural tube closure, a process in neurulation, is critical for formation of the central nervous system. Failure of neural tube closure leads to neural tube defects. To identify the molecular regulation of closure, transcriptomic profiling of neurulation was performed using laser capture microdissected neuroepithelium and the surrounding mesenchyme in combination with Affymetrix microarray technology. Various candidate genes involved in regulating median and dorsolateral hinge point formation were identified and groped by signaling pathways and functions based on their Gene Ontology classification. Numerous glycosaminoglycan-related genes, including ß-1, 4-galactosyltransferase which codes for an enzyme involved in initiation of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, were found to be differentially expressed in the profiles. The function of this enzyme was investigated using siRNA to silence its expression in NE4C neuroepithelial cells.