DNA variation and brain region-specific expression profiles exhibit different relationships between inbred mouse strains: implications for eQTL mapping studies

摘要: Background: Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping is used to find loci that are responsible for the transcriptional activity of a particular gene. In recent eQTL studies, expression profiles were derived from either homogenized whole brain or collections large regions. However, very heterogeneous organ, and different regions vary significantly. Because importance potential power studies in identifying regulatory networks, we analyzed gene patterns multiple inbred mouse strains investigated implications design analysis studies. Results: Gene five six studied. Few genes exhibited significant strain-specific pattern, whereas number region-specific patterns. We constructed phylogenetic trees based on relationships between compared them with DNA-level relationship tree. The constant across mirrored variation. set strain relationships, depending region. An showed enrichment cis-acting regulators among strainspecific genes, appear be mainly regulated by trans-acting elements. Conclusion: Our results suggest many networks highly region specific indicate conducting using data tissues physiologically phenotypically relevant interest.