Cited by 603Developmental Biology and Gene RegulationGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Functional and Evolutionary Insights into Human Brain Development through Global Transcriptome Analysis

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Johnson, Matthew B., Kawasawa, Yuka Imamura, Mason, Christopher E., Krsnik, Željka, Coppola, Giovanni, Bogdanović, Darko, Geschwind, Daniel H., Mane, Shrikant M. +2 more·2009·Neuron

Abstract

Our understanding of the evolution, formation, and pathological disruption of human brain circuits is impeded by a lack of comprehensive data on the developing brain transcriptome. A whole-genome, exon-level expression analysis of 13 regions from left and right sides of the mid-fetal human brain revealed that 76% of genes are expressed, and 44% of these are differentially regulated. These data reveal a large number of specific gene expression and alternative splicing patterns, as well as coexpression networks, associated with distinct regions and neurodevelopmental processes. Of particular relevance to cognitive specializations, we have characterized the transcriptional landscapes of prefrontal cortex and perisylvian speech and language areas, which exhibit a population-level global expression symmetry. We show that differentially expressed genes are more frequently associated with human-specific evolution of putative cis-regulatory elements. These data provide a wealth of biological insights into the complex transcriptional and molecular underpinnings of human brain development and evolution.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.03.027

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  • Different brain regions are associated with complex patterns of alternative splicing.

    “and different brain regions are associated with complex patterns of alternative splicing (Johnson et al., 2009).”
  • The PFC, Broca area, and Wernicke area in humans display a temporarily enriched gene expression pattern distinct from mouse or macaque cerebrum at comparable prenatal stages.

    “Thus, the PFC as well as the Broca and Wernicke association areas in humans, which are formed in the frontal and temporal lobes, display a temporarily enriched gene expression pattern that is distinct from the mice or macaque cerebrum at the comparable prenatal stages (e.g., [21, 22]).”

    From Development of prefrontal cortex (2022) · cites this paper as [21]

  • Analysis of DE from a dataset of gene expression in developing fetal human brain showed a highly significant (p = 5.8E-9) overlap of DE genes with those found in controls in this study.

    “Analysis of DE from a data set 10 of gene expression in developing fetal human brain showed a highly significant (p = 5.8E-9) overlap of DE genes with those found in controls in this study, independently confirming that these genes differentiate normal temporal and frontal lobes.”
  • All of the genes shown (top 20) are also differentially expressed between frontal and temporal cortex in fetal midgestation brain.

    “All of the genes shown are also differentially expressed between frontal and temporal cortex in fetal midgestation brain 10”
  • Genes associated with psychiatric disorders are highly expressed during development.

    “Transcriptomic analyses suggest that genes associated with psychiatric disorders are highly expressed during development 5,6 ,”

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Authors
Johnson, M. B., Kawasawa, Y. I., Mason, C. E., Krsnik, Ž., Coppola, G., Bogdanović, D., Geschwind, D. H., Mane, S. M., State, M. W., & Šestan, N.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Šestan, Nenad
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-05
Volume
62
Issue
4
Pages
494-509
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2126527896
Cited by
603
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 58 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 47
FWCI
17.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (MH060233, MH081896, NS051869, NS054273, NS056276)
  • James S. McDonnell Foundation
  • Kavli Foundation
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
human brain development, gene expression, alternative splicing, co-expression network, prefrontal cortex, hemispheric symmetry, human brain evolution, cis-regulatory elements, brain development
MeSH terms
Brain, Fetus, Humans, Functional Laterality, Models, Biological, Neural Pathways, Postmortem Changes, Transcription Factors, Alternative Splicing, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Evolution, Molecular, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Gene Expression Profiling, Embryonic Development

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