Novel cell- and stage-specific transcriptional signatures defining Drosophila neurons, glia and hemocytes

Abstract

Cell types can be now defined at unprecedented resolution using high throughput assays. We analyzed the transcriptional signatures of Drosophila neurons, glia and hemocytes, as examples of cell types that are related by position (glia/neurons) or function (glia/hemocytes) or that are unrelated (neurons/hemocytes). The most related cells display the highest similarity level (neurons and glia), the least related ones, the lowest (neurons and hemocytes), however, cells can show plastic features. Glia are much more similar to neurons than to hemocytes in the embryo, but are equally similar to the two cell types in the larva, when hemocytes acquire more immune functions. Larval glia and hemocytes display common as well as specific immune features, such as the glia-specific NimA receptor, in agreement with the different environment faced by each cell types. Surprisingly, time represents a key identity parameter, as neurons, hemocytes and glia group more significantly by the stage than by the cell type and larval cells show upregulation of genes involved in chromatin organization and in DNA repair. This latter group of genes is linked to changes in gene expression levels and chromatin organization, revealing a function of these genes beyond DNA repair. Finally, the metabolic profiles reveal cell type-specific signatures and an overall shift from an embryonic, anabolic state to a larval, catabolic state.