Coexpression networks identify brain region-specific enhancer RNAs in the human brain

Nat Neurosci. 2015 Aug;18(8):1168-74. doi: 10.1038/nn.4063. Epub 2015 Jul 13.

Abstract

Despite major progress in identifying enhancer regions on a genome-wide scale, the majority of available data are limited to model organisms and human transformed cell lines. We have identified a robust set of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) expressed in the human brain and constructed networks assessing eRNA-gene coexpression interactions across human fetal brain and multiple adult brain regions. Our data identify brain region-specific eRNAs and show that enhancer regions expressing eRNAs are enriched for genetic variants associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / genetics*
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / genetics*
  • Fetus
  • Gene Expression / genetics*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • RNA

Associated data

  • BioProject/PRJNA273171