Figure 3

Gene expression patterns changes in cellular processes affected by overexpression of SNCA. Functional categories overrepresented in the lists of genes differentially expressed in Thy1-aSyn mice were identified using the Gene ontology (GO) database, which implements the GO terms in three structured ontologies relating gene products on the basis of their associated biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions; multiple overlapping GO terms (referred to as functional categories) were identified (Table 2) (p < 0.05). Shown here are the genes expression pattern (fold changes in Thy1-aSyn mice relative to wt mice) in representative functional categories deemed highly relevant to PD pathogenesis. A) cytoplasmic vesicle/vesicle-mediated transport (GO:0031410, GO:0016192) and synapse (GO:0045202); B) regulation of synaptic plasticity/cell-cell signaling (GO:0048167, GO:0007267) and endocytosis (GO:0006897); C) regulation of apoptosis (GO:0042981) plus additional apoptosis regulators identified through data-mining; the sign + after the gene symbol indicates the gene is proapoptotic, the sign - indicates the gene antiapoptotic term and the signs +- or the term "Both" refers to ambivalent genes that can positively and negatively regulate apoptosis; D) behavior (GO:0007610) and hormone activity (GO:0005179); E) vasculature development (GO:0001944) and sterol metabolic process/cholesterol metabolism (GO:0016125, SP PIR_KEYWORDS: cholesterol metabolism). Most genes name descriptions can be found in the text; otherwise in Additional file 2 Table S1.