Epigenomic diversity of cortical projection neurons in the mouse brain

Neuronal cell types are classically defined by their molecular properties, anatomy and functions. Although recent advances in single-cell genomics have led to high-resolution molecular characterization of cell type diversity in the brain(1), neuronal cell types are often studied out of the context of their anatomical properties. To improve our understanding of the relationship between molecular and anatomical features that define cortical neurons, here we combined retrograde labelling with single-nucleus DNA methylation sequencing to link neural epigenomic properties to projections. We examined 11,827 single neocortical neurons from 63 cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical long-distance projections. Our results showed unique epigenetic signatures of projection neuronsthat correspond to their laminar and regional location and projection patterns. On the basis of their epigenomes, intra-telencephalic cells that project to different cortical targets could be further distinguished, and some layer 5 neuronsthat project to extra-telencephalictargets (L5ET) formed separate clusters that aligned with their axonal projections. Such separation varied between cortical areas, which suggests that there are area-specific differences in L5ET sub types, which were further validated by anatomical studies. Notably, a population of cortico-cortical projection neurons clustered with L5ET rather than intra-telencephalic neurons, which suggests that a population of L5ET cortical neurons projects to both targets. We verified the existence of these neurons by dual retrograde labelling and anterograde tracing of cortico-cortical projection neurons, which revealed axon terminals in extra-telencephalictargets including the thalamus, superior colliculus and pons. These findings highlight the power of single-cell epigenomic approaches to connect the molecular properties of neurons with their anatomical and projection properties.

Automated summary

By combining retrograde labeling with single-nucleus DNA methylation sequencing, researchers were able to identify unique epigenetic signatures of projection neurons that corresponded to their laminar and regional location and projection patterns. These findings helped to distinguish intra-telencephalic cells projecting to different cortical targets and confirmed the correlation between L5ET cortical neurons and their axonal projections.