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Fig. 5 | Genome Biology

Fig. 5

From: Programmed genomic instability regulates neural transdifferentiation of human brain microvascular pericytes

Fig. 5

RNA-seq analysis of transcriptional remodelling upon neural transdifferentiation of pericytes. a Missing transcript intersection map was used to visualize temporal pattern of transcript loss. Bar plots show the size of missing clusters (filled dots: missing) for each combination of time points (n = 30 combinations). Note the rapid decline of transcriptomic complexity at t = 5 and 10 min followed by gradual recovery of the transcriptome after t = 20 min. b GO enrichment analysis of transcripts that became undetectable after t = 5 min (blue bars) and t = 10 min (green bar) revealed strong clustering in related pathways. c Scatter plots show RNA-seq profiles of two genic clusters corresponding to clusters 1 (green bar) and 2 (blue bars) of the missingness graph (part a). The top scatter graph shows the expression level of genic cluster 1 at t = 5 min (prior to missing at t ≥ 10 min) as normalized to control pericytes. These genes are linked to stabilization of cytoplasmic actin cytoskeleton (CDC42EP3, DOCK10) or protein translation machinery (EIF5B). The bottom scatter graph shows the expression level of genic cluster 2 at t = 50 min (after recovery) as normalized to control pericytes. Upregulation of these genes (e.g., Metallothionein) could facilitate tolerance of stressors by transdifferentiating pericytes. d Heat map shows normalized expression of genes whose transcription does not cease during transdifferentiation. GO enrichment analysis of this cluster shows evidence of emergence of a transcriptional profile compatible with neuronal functionality. e Scatter plots show RNA-seq profiles of transdifferentiating pericytes at t = 10 min normalized to transdifferentiating cells at t = 5 min. The left scatter plot shows Log10 (p value) of differentially regulated functional clusters plotted against the cluster size, and the right graph shows Log2 (fold change) of differentially expressed genes plotted against − Log2 (p value). f Scatter plots show RNA-seq profiles of transdifferentiating pericytes at t = 15 min normalized to transdifferentiating cells at t = 10 min

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