2018/09/05 by Mónica Tapia, Pierre Baudot, Christine Formisano‐Tréziny +7 · 1 citation
Neuroscience · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Neural dynamics and brain function #Gene Regulatory Network Analysis #Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling #Phenotype #Midbrain #Biology #Neuroscience #Dopaminergic #Neurotransmitter receptor #Neurotransmitter #Population #Gene #Electrophysiology #Neurotransmitter Agents #Genetics #Dopamine #Central nervous system #Receptor #Medicine
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-31765-z
openalex publication_date 2018/09/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Most neuronal types have a well-identified electrical phenotype. It is now admitted that a same phenotype can be produced using multiple biophysical solutions defined by ion channel expression levels. This argues that systems-level approaches are necessary to understand electrical phenotype genesis and stability. Midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons, although quite heterogeneous, exhibit a characteristic electrical phenotype. However, the quantitative genetic principles underlying this conserved phenotype remain unknown. Here we investigated the quantitative relationships between ion channels' gene expression levels in midbrain DA neurons using single-cell microfluidic qPCR. Using multivariate mutual information analysis to decipher high-dimensional statistical dependences, we unravel co-varying gene modules that link neurotransmitter identity and electrical phenotype. We also identify new segregating gene modules underlying the diversity of this neuronal population. We propose that the newly identified genetic coupling between neurotransmitter identity and ion channels may play a homeostatic role in maintaining the electrophysiological phenotype of midbrain DA neurons.