Figure 6.

Transcriptomics analysis of wt and ATF3-deficient facial motor nuclei. (a) Heatmap of genes most strongly (more than sevenfold) altered by facial nerve injury in wt or ATF3-deficient mice. The fold induction in wt and Atf3 mutant mice was calculated in relation to expression values on the uninjured site. Genes depicted in black were not obviously affected by ATF3 deficiency. Expression of genes labelled in red or blue colour was reduced or elevated in Atf3 mutant compared to wt mice, respectively. Green colours in bars depict weakest, whereas red colours indicate strong expression levels. (b) In wt mice, 849 genes out of over 35 000 genes present on the microarray were regulated more than twofold. The number of genes upregulated by injury (594) exceeded those downregulated (255) more than twofold. (c,d) STRING networks of protein clusters identified in wt mice upon facial nerve injury. A first protein cluster (c) revealed known ATF3 interaction partners such as Cdkn1a and Gadd45a and further interactions of ATF3 with for instance components of integrin signalling (Itgam, Itgb2 Itga7). A second protein network (d) consisted of neuropeptide signalling components such as neuropeptides (Pacap, Vip, Ngf, Npy, Grp, Gal) and receptors (Avpr1a, Vipr2). Genes labelled in red were affected by ATF3 deficiency.