Analysis of the lincRNA transcriptome in the accessory olfactory system

Author(s)

Antônio Pedro Camargo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2018-02-22

Examining board members

Fabio Papes; Benilton de Sá Carvalho; Jörg Kobarg

• Advisor: Fabio Papes

Abstract

The olfactory system is a sensory system capable of detecting environmental chemical cues, leading to the sensation of odor and/or behavioral and endocrine changes. This system comprises two olfactory organs, the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO), that display a unique and highly coordinated process of gene expression regulation. Recently, a variety of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been discovered playing roles in the regulation of gene expression. Given the molecular properties of gene expression in the olfactory tissues, it was hypothesized that lncRNAs might be involved in the neurogenesis in these organs. A lncRNA predictor was developed using a cutting edge machine learning algorithm and was employed to identify several new intergenic lncRNAs (lincRNAs) in the mouse transcriptome. Using expression data, it was possible to identify a number of these transcripts as specific to the olfactory organs, and many differentially expressed between adult and newborn mice. Single-cell RNA-Seq data from the MOE was used to unveil lincRNAs that display a defined expression pattern along neurogenesis. Moreover, gene coexpression and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis were employed to assign putative involvement in biological processes to some olfactory lincRNAs. Finally, the expression profile of a few selected putative lincRNAs was experimentally validated by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. These results comprise the first approach to research the expression of lncRNAs in the sensorial interface of the MOE and VNO. This work sets the ground for subsequent investigation regarding the molecular mechanisms and functional roles of lincRNAs in the olfactory system (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/05379-6 - Analysis of the lincRNA transcriptome in the accessory olfactory system
• Grantee: Antônio Pedro de Castello Branco da Rocha Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master