Spatial transcriptomics of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites identifies sex-specific differences in gene expression patterns
Authors
- A. Ebbing
- Á. Vértesy
- M.C. Betist
- B. Spanjaard
- J.P. Junker
- E. Berezikov
- A. van Oudenaarden
- H.C. Korswagen
Journal
- Developmental Cell
Citation
- Dev Cell 47 (6): 801-813
Abstract
To advance our understanding of the genetic programs that drive cell and tissue specialization, it is necessary to obtain a comprehensive overview of gene expression patterns. Here, we have used spatial transcriptomics to generate high-resolution, anteroposterior gene expression maps of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites. To explore these maps, we have developed computational methods for discovering region- and tissue-specific genes. We have found extensive sex-specific gene expression differences in the germline and sperm and discovered genes that are specifically expressed in the male reproductive tract. These include a group of uncharacterized genes that encode small secreted proteins that are required for male fertility. We conclude that spatial gene expression maps provide a powerful resource for identifying tissue-specific gene functions in C. elegans. Importantly, we found that expression maps from different animals can be precisely aligned, enabling transcriptome-wide comparisons of gene expression patterns.