Int. J. Dev. Biol. 49: 201 - 207 (2005)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.041939it

Vol 49, Issue 2-3

Special Issue: The Nogent Institute

Single-cell transcriptional profiles and spatial patterning of the mammalian olfactory epithelium

Published: 1 May 2005

Ian Tietjen¹, Jason Rihel² and Catherine G. Dulac*^,2

¹Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA and ²Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

Abstract

In order to gain insights into the regulatory control of neuronal diversity in the mammalian olfactory system, we have identified the transcriptional profile of individual olfactory neurons. A single cell microarray strategy was performed to search for candidate genes involved in the molecular specification of dorso-ventral zones of olfactory receptor (OR) expression. Several transcripts were identified that display differential expression in distinct OR zones, including a novel family of genes, the Lozenge-like (Lzl) genes which share sequence consensus motifs with Lozenge, a transcription factor involved in the patterning of the Drosophila olfactory and visual systems.

Keywords

olfactory, development, microarray, single cell