Figure 2

Gene profiling in the forebrain. Scatterplots show mean gene expression fold changes between the thalamus, hippocampus, and cortex by RT-qPCR. p values (Student’s t-test) revealed statistical significance for all fold changes > 2 and < 0.5. A logarithmic scale is used. Red frames surround the plot areas of at least two-fold higher expression in a given brain region compared with the other two regions, gray frames - of at least two-fold lower. (A) Expression of VGCC genes in the thalamus vs. cortex (x-axis) and hippocampus (y-axis). (Left plot) VGCC genes defined as putative LEF1/TCF targets. (Right plot) Remainder of the VGCC genes. The proportions of highly expressed genes in the group of putative LEF1/TCF targets (left plot) and in the non-target group (right plot) were compared using Fisher’s Exact test, indicating a nonrandom association (p = 0.021). (B) Expression of all putative neuronal LEF1/TCF targets in the thalamus vs. cortex (x-axis) and hippocampus (y-axis). Notice that many genes are highly expressed in the thalamus. (C) Expression of all putative neuronal LEF1/TCF targets. (Left plot) Cortex vs. thalamus (x-axis) and hippocampus (y-axis). (Right plot) Hippocampus vs. thalamus (x-axis) and cortex (y-axis). Notice that this group of genes is not preferentially expressed in the cortex or hippocampus. n = 6 independent biological samples.