Masahito Yoshihara, Andrea Coschiera, Jörg A Bachmann, Mariangela Pucci, Haonan Li, Shruti Bhagat, Yasuhiro Murakawa, Jere Weltner, Eeva-Mari Jouhilahti, Peter Swoboda, Pelin Sahlén, Juha Kere
{"title":"Transcriptional enhancers in human neuronal differentiation provide clues to neuronal disorders.","authors":"Masahito Yoshihara, Andrea Coschiera, Jörg A Bachmann, Mariangela Pucci, Haonan Li, Shruti Bhagat, Yasuhiro Murakawa, Jere Weltner, Eeva-Mari Jouhilahti, Peter Swoboda, Pelin Sahlén, Juha Kere","doi":"10.1038/s44319-025-00372-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified thousands of variants associated with complex phenotypes, including neuropsychiatric disorders. To better understand their pathogenesis, it is necessary to identify the functional roles of these variants, which are largely located in non-coding DNA regions. Here, we employ a human mesencephalic neuronal cell differentiation model, LUHMES, with sensitive and high-resolution methods to discover enhancers (NET-CAGE), perform DNA conformation analysis (Capture Hi-C) to link enhancers to their target genes, and finally validate selected interactions. We expand the number of known enhancers active in differentiating human LUHMES neurons to 47,350, and find overlap with GWAS variants for Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Our findings reveal a fine-tuned regulation of human neuronal differentiation, even between adjacent developmental stages; provide a valuable resource for further studies on neuronal development, regulation, and disorders; and emphasize the importance of exploring the vast regulatory potential of non-coding DNA and enhancers.</p>","PeriodicalId":11541,"journal":{"name":"EMBO Reports","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"EMBO Reports","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-025-00372-1","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified thousands of variants associated with complex phenotypes, including neuropsychiatric disorders. To better understand their pathogenesis, it is necessary to identify the functional roles of these variants, which are largely located in non-coding DNA regions. Here, we employ a human mesencephalic neuronal cell differentiation model, LUHMES, with sensitive and high-resolution methods to discover enhancers (NET-CAGE), perform DNA conformation analysis (Capture Hi-C) to link enhancers to their target genes, and finally validate selected interactions. We expand the number of known enhancers active in differentiating human LUHMES neurons to 47,350, and find overlap with GWAS variants for Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Our findings reveal a fine-tuned regulation of human neuronal differentiation, even between adjacent developmental stages; provide a valuable resource for further studies on neuronal development, regulation, and disorders; and emphasize the importance of exploring the vast regulatory potential of non-coding DNA and enhancers.
期刊介绍:
EMBO Reports is a scientific journal that specializes in publishing research articles in the fields of molecular biology, cell biology, and developmental biology. The journal is known for its commitment to publishing high-quality, impactful research that provides novel physiological and functional insights. These insights are expected to be supported by robust evidence, with independent lines of inquiry validating the findings.
The journal's scope includes both long and short-format papers, catering to different types of research contributions. It values studies that:
Communicate major findings: Articles that report significant discoveries or advancements in the understanding of biological processes at the molecular, cellular, and developmental levels.
Confirm important findings: Research that validates or supports existing knowledge in the field, reinforcing the reliability of previous studies.
Refute prominent claims: Studies that challenge or disprove widely accepted ideas or hypotheses in the biosciences, contributing to the correction and evolution of scientific understanding.
Present null data: Papers that report negative results or findings that do not support a particular hypothesis, which are crucial for the scientific process as they help to refine or redirect research efforts.
EMBO Reports is dedicated to maintaining high standards of scientific rigor and integrity, ensuring that the research it publishes contributes meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge in the life sciences. By covering a broad spectrum of topics and encouraging the publication of both positive and negative results, the journal plays a vital role in promoting a comprehensive and balanced view of scientific inquiry.