Article
Extended Data Fig. 2 | Global evidence for programmed switch of gene
expression from astrocytes to neurons in response to PTB depletion.
a, Clustering analysis. RNA-seq data (available under GSE142250) were
generated on independent isolates of astrocytes from mouse cortex or
midbrain before and after conversion to neurons by depleting PTB for 2 or 4
weeks. By clustering analysis, the global gene expression profiles were
compared with the public datasets for astrocytes or neurons as indicated by
the colour key and the data sources on the right. The selection of these public
data for comparison was based on astrocytes without further culture and on
neurons directly isolated from mouse brain or differentiated from embryonic
stem cells (ESCs). b, c, Comparison of gene expression profiles between
independent libraries prepared from mouse cortical (b) or midbrain (c)
astrocytes before and after PTB depletion for 2 or 4 weeks. Selective
astrocyte-specific (blue) and neuron-specific (red) genes are highlighted.
Results show a degree of heterogeneity between independent isolates of
astrocytes, but notably, their converted neurons became more homogeneous.
d, Comparison between induced gene expression upon PTB depletion in
cortical versus midbrain astrocytes. Several commonly induced DA
neuron-specific genes (that is, Otx2, En1 and Aldh1a1) are highlighted when
comparing between neurons derived from cortical versus midbrain astrocytes
(right). Significantly induced DA neuron-associated genes are listed in
Supplementary Table 1. Note that most genes are enriched, but not uniquely
expressed, in DA neurons (thus, they are not specific markers for DA neurons),
as evidenced by their induction to different degrees in shPTB-treated cortical
astrocytes.