Project description:Spiny projection neurons (SPNs) of the striatum are critical in integrating neurochemical information to coordinate motor and reward-based behavior. Mutations in the regulatory transcription factors expressed in SPNs can result in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Paralogous transcription factorsFoxp1andFoxp2, which are both expressed in the dopamine receptor 1 (D1) expressing SPNs, are known to have variants implicated in NDDs. Utilizing mice with a D1-SPN specific loss ofFoxp1,Foxp2, or both and a combination of behavior, electrophysiology, and single-nuclei RNA (snRNA-seq) and single-nuclei Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing (snATAC-seq), we find that loss of both genes results in impaired motor and social behavior as well as increased firing of the D1-SPNs. Differential gene expression analysis of snRNA-seq data implicates genes involved in autism risk, altered electrophysiological properties, and neuronal development and function. These data indicate complementary roles betweenFoxp1andFoxp2in the D1-SPNs.
Project description:Spiny projection neurons (SPNs) of the striatum are critical in integrating neurochemical information to coordinate motor and reward-based behavior. Mutations in the regulatory transcription factors expressed in SPNs can result in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Paralogous transcription factorsFoxp1andFoxp2, which are both expressed in the dopamine receptor 1 (D1) expressing SPNs, are known to have variants implicated in NDDs. Utilizing mice with a D1-SPN specific loss ofFoxp1,Foxp2, or both and a combination of behavior, electrophysiology, and single-nuclei RNA (snRNA-seq) and single-nuclei Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin sequencing (snATAC-seq), we find that loss of both genes results in impaired motor and social behavior as well as increased firing of the D1-SPNs. Differential gene expression analysis of snRNA-seq data implicates genes involved in autism risk, altered electrophysiological properties, and neuronal development and function. These data indicate complementary roles betweenFoxp1andFoxp2in the D1-SPNs.
Project description:Spiny projection neurons (SPNs) of the striatum are critical in integrating neurochemical information to coordinate motor and reward-based behavior. Mutations in the regulatory transcription factors expressed in SPNs can result in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Paralogous transcription factors Foxp1 and Foxp2, which are both expressed in the dopamine receptor 1 (D1) expressing SPNs, are known to have variants implicated in NDDs. Utilizing mice with a D1-SPN-specific loss of Foxp1, Foxp2, or both and a combination of behavior, electrophysiology, and cell-type-specific genomic analysis, loss of both genes results in impaired motor and social behavior as well as increased firing of the D1-SPNs. Differential gene expression analysis implicates genes involved in autism risk, electrophysiological properties, and neuronal development and function. Viral-mediated re-expression of Foxp1 into the double knockouts is sufficient to restore electrophysiological and behavioral deficits. These data indicate complementary roles between Foxp1 and Foxp2 in the D1-SPNs.
