Table 1.
Classification of analyzed gene markers according to type of protein, and their associated functions
| Gene | Protein | Type of protein | Function | References/links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calb2 | Calretinin (CR) | Calcium binding protein | Modulation of neuronal excitability (calcium signaling) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/794/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| S100a10 (calpatin) | S100 calcium-binding protein A10 (calpactin) | Calcium binding protein | Intracellular proteases activated by calcium. Modulator of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6281/ortholog/?scope=32523 |
| Cacna2d1 | Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, alpha2/delta subunit 1 | Calcium chanel | It regulates calcium current density and activation/inactivation kinetics of the calcium channel | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O08532 |
| Cbln2 | Cerebellin 2 precursor protein | Cerebellin family | Secreted neuronal glycoprotein. Formation and/or function of synapses | [1]; https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8IUK8 |
| Cbln4 | Cerebellin 4 precursor protein | Cerebellin family | Secreted neuronal glycoprotein; formation and/or function of synapses | [1]; https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8IUK8 |
| Parm1 (9130213B05RIK) | Prostate androgen-regulated mucin-like protein 1 | Endoplasmic reticulum molecule |
Cell differentiation Involved potentially in positive regulation of telomerase activity. Unknown function in the brain |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/231440 |
| Ecel1 | Endothelin converting enzyme-like 1 | Enzyme (endopeptidase) | Associated with nerve development and regeneration | [2, 49]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/9427/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Nek7 | NIMA (never in mitosis gene a)-related kinase | Enzyme (serine/threonine protein kinase) | Role in mitotic cell cycle progression. Microtubule regulator | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9ES74 |
| Gad1 (Gad67) | Glutamate decarboxylase 1 | Enzyme; GABAergic neuron marker | Synthesis of GABA | [3, 50]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2571/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Gad2 (Gad65) | Glutamate decarboxylase 2 | Enzyme; GABAergic neuron marker | Systhesis of GABA | [3, 50]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2572/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Gpx3 | Glutathione peroxidase 3 | Enzyme | Detoxification of hydrogen peroxide | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2878/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Hdc | Histidine decarboxylase | Enzyme; histaminergic cell marker | Synthesis of histamine; neurotransmission | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3067/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Nos1 | Nitric oxide synthase 1 | Enzyme | It catalyzes the production of nitric oxide (NO) from l-arginine | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4842/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Mdga1 | MAM domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor 1 protein | Immunoglobulin family | Cell adhesion; formation or maintenance of inhibitory synapses; radial migration of cortical neurons | [4]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/266727/ortholog/?scope=117570 |
| Wif1 | WNT inhibitory factor 1 | Lipid-binding protein | Implicated in WNT signaling during embryonic development | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/11197/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Slc17a6 (vGlut2) | Solute carrier family 17 (sodium-dependent inorganic phosphate cotransporter), member 6 | Membrane transport protein (vGLUT2); glutamatergic cell marker | Vesicular glutamate transporter. Involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission | [5, 51]; https://www.omim.org/entry/607563?search=Slc17a6&highlight=slc17a6 |
| Slc32a1 | Solute carrier family 32 (GABA vesicular transporter), member 1 | Membrane transport protein; GABAergic cell marker | Vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter, GABA and glycine transporter | [6]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/11197/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Cartpt | CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) prepropeptide | Neuropeptide | Role in feeding, drug reward, stress, cardiovascular function, and bone remodeling | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/9607/ortholog/?scope=89593; https://www.omim.org/entry/602606?search=Cartpt&highlight=cartpt |
| Crh | Corticotropin-releasing hormone | Neuropeptide | Central driver of the stress hormone system | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1392/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Gal | Galanin | Neuropeptide | Role in nociception, feeding and energy homeostasis, osmotic regulation, and water balance | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/51083/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Hcrt | Hypocretin (orexin) | Neuropeptide | Role in arousal, feeding, and energy metabolism | [7] |
| Igf1 | Insulin-like growth factor 1 | Neuropeptide | Neuroplasticity | [8, 9] |
| Nts | Neurotensin | Neuropeptide | Role in arousal and regulation of hyperthermia. Involved in regulation of dopamine pathways | [10, 52] |
| Pdyn | Prodynorphin or Proenkephalin B | Neuropeptide (opioid polypeptide hormone) | Leu-enkephalins compete with and mimic the effects of opiate drugs. Role in pain perception and responses to stress | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O35417 |
| Penk | Preproenkephalin | Neuropeptide (endogenous opioid polypeptide hormone) | Met- and leu-enkephalins have a role in a number of physiologic functions, including pain perception and responses to stress | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P22005 |
| Pmch | Pro-melanin concentrating hormone | Neuropeptide | Regulation of food intake and arousal | [11, 12]; https://www.omim.org/entry/176795?search=Pmch&highlight=pmch |
| Pnoc | Prepronociceptin | Neuropeptide; precursor of neuropeptides nociceptin, nocistatin, and orphanin | Nociceptin may act as a transmitter in the brain by modulating nociceptive and locomotor behavior. May be involved in neuronal differentiation and development | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q64387 |
| Sst | Somatostatin | Neuropeptide; protein marker of inhibitory interneurons | It inhibits the secretion of pituitary hormones and affects the neurotransmission and cell proliferation by interacting with G-protein coupled receptors | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6750/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Tac1 | Tachykinin 1 | Neuropeptide | Modulation of neuronal activity | [13, 53] |
| Tac2 | Tachykinin 2 | Neuropeptide | Modulation of neuronal activity | [13, 53] |
| Trh | Thyrotropin-releasing hormone | Neuropeptide | Role in the regulation and release of thyroid-stimulating hormone, as well as prolactin Neurotransmitter/ neuromodulator in the central and peripheral nervous systems | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P01150; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/7200/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Dlk1 (Peg9; Pref1) | Delta-like protein 1 | Non-canonical Notch ligand | Regulator of proliferation/differentiation processes | [14–16] |
| Nptx2 | Neuronal pentraxin-2 | Pentraxin family | Synaptic plasticity; glutamatergic signaling | [17, 54]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4885/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Nnat | Neuronatin | Proteolipid | It may be involved in the regulation of ion channels during brain development | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4826/ortholog/?scope=9347 |
| Chrm3 | Cholinergic receptor, muscarinic 3 | Receptor (cholinergic receptor) | Regulation of acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous system | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1131/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Gpr101 | G protein-coupled receptor 101 | Receptor | Unknown function | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/83550/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Erbb4 | Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 | Receptor of neuregulin | Role in neuronal development (migration of GABAergic neurons, anon navigation) | https://www.omim.org/entry/600543?search=Erbb4&highlight=erbb4#13 |
| Irs4 | Insulin receptor substrate 4 | Receptor | Role in induline/IGF1 signaling pathways; role in growth, reproduction, and glucose homeostasis | [18, 55]; https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O14654 |
| Trhr | Thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor | Receptor (hormone receptor) | Receptor for thyrotropin-releasing hormone | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/7201/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Peg10 | Paternally expressed 10 protein | RNA binding protein | Role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/23089/ortholog/?scope=89593 |
| Ntng2 | Netrin G2 | Subfamily of synaptic cell adhesion proteins | Role in neuronal migration and axonal guidance, as well as in synaptic development and transmission | https://www.omim.org/entry/618689 |
| Barhl2 | BarH-like 2 homeobox protein | Transcription factor (BarH family of homeodomain proteins) | DNA binding activity. Potential role in regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. Role in neuronal differentiation | [19, 56]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/343472 |
| Bcl11b | B cell leukemia/lymphoma 11B | Transcription factor (zinc-finger transcription factor family) | Involved in central nervous system development and adult neurogenesis | [20, 57] |
| Ebf3 | Early B cell factor 3 | Transcription factor (early B cell factor (EBF) family of DNA binding transcription factors) | Role in neuronal differentiation and brain patterning | [21] |
| Fezf2 | Fez family zinc finger 2 | Transcription factor | Role in nervous system development (e.g., rostro-caudal patterning). Regulation of neuron differentiation | [22, 58]; https://beta.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9ESP5/entry; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55079 |
| Foxg1 | Forkhead box G1 | Transcription factor (fork-head transcription factor family) | Development of telencephalon | [23, 59] |
| Foxp2 | Forkhead box P2 | Transcription factor (forkhead box P (FOXP) subfamily) | Putative roles in the nervous system such as modulation of synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopment, or neural transmission. Involved in language and speech development | [24, 60] |
| Lhx5 | LIM homeobox protein 5 | Trascription factor | Implicated in forebrain development | [25, 61] |
| Lmx1a | LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 alpha | Transcription factor (LIM homeobox family) | Positive regulator of insulin gene transcription. Implicated in the formation of roof plate and roof plate-derived structures. Role in the development of dopaminergic neurons | [26, 62]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4009/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Meis2 | Myeloid ecotropic insertion site 2 | Trascription factor (TALE “three amino acid loop extension” family of homeodomain-containing proteins) | Brain patterning; adult neurogenesis | [27, 63]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/17536 |
| Otp | Orthopedia homeobox | Transcription factor (homeodomain family) | Implicated in differentiation of specific neuroendocrine lineages within the hypothalamus | [28, 29] |
| Pitx2 | Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 | Transcription factor (RIEG/PITX homeobox family) | Implicated in neuronal differentiation, migration, and axon outgrowth | [30, 31, 64, 65]; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5308/ortholog/?scope=7776 |
| Plagl1 (Zac1) | PLAG (pleomorphic adenoma gene-like) zinc finger 1 | Transcription factor (zinc finger protein) | Regulation of telencephalic development | [32, 66] |
| Rfx4 | Regulatory factor X, 4 | Transcription factor (helix-turn-helix) | Role in early brain development | https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q33E94; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/71137/ |
| Satb2 | Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 2 | Trascription factor (special AT-rich binding protein family) | Cortical neuron differentiation | [33, 67] |
| Sim1 | Single-minded family bHLH transcription factor 1 | Transcription factor (basic helix-loop-helix-PAS domain transcription factor) | Implicated in differentiation of specific neuroendocrine lineages within the hypothalamus | [34–36] |
| Tbr1 | T-box brain transcription factor 1 | Transcription factor (T-box transcription factor family) | Involved in multiple aspects of cortical development, including neuronal migration, laminar and areal identity, and axonal projection | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/10716 |
| Zic5 | Zinc finger protein 5 | Transcription factor (Zic family) | Role in neural crest development and neural tube closure | [37, 68] |
| Prph | Peripherin | Type III intermediate filament protein | Potential role in neurite elongation during development and axonal regeneration after injury, but its exact function is unknown; associated with susceptibility to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=PRPH#function; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/genes/5630/ |