Cross-ancestry atlas of gene, isoform, and splicing regulation in the developing human brain.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
Authors
Abstract

Neuropsychiatric genome-wide association studies (GWASs), including those for autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, show strong enrichment for regulatory elements in the developing brain. However, prioritizing risk genes and mechanisms is challenging without a unified regulatory atlas. Across 672 diverse developing human brains, we identified 15,752 genes harboring gene, isoform, and/or splicing quantitative trait loci, mapping 3739 to cellular contexts. Gene expression heritability drops during development, likely reflecting both increasing cellular heterogeneity and the intrinsic properties of neuronal maturation. Isoform-level regulation, particularly in the second trimester, mediated the largest proportion of GWAS heritability. Through colocalization, we prioritized mechanisms for about 60% of GWAS loci across five disorders, exceeding adult brain findings. Finally, we contextualized results within gene and isoform coexpression networks, revealing the comprehensive landscape of transcriptome regulation in development and disease.

Year of Publication
2024
Journal
Science (New York, N.Y.)
Volume
384
Issue
6698
Pages
eadh0829
Date Published
05/2024
ISSN
1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.adh0829
PubMed ID
38781368
Links