How does the noncoding genome regulate gene expression in the human brain?

非编码基因组被认为是高等真核生物基因表达的主要参与者。该项目旨在确定人类基因组中对神经元分化和去极化过程中基因表达重要的区域（即神经增强子），并研究其进化特性。非编码DNA在调节复杂人脑功能的动态基因表达模式中的作用仍有待阐明。通过结合转录组定量和生物信息学方法，该项目将填补我们对人类大脑功能转录调控的理解中的一个重要知识空白。这将带来好处，例如影响公共卫生政策的潜力，包括认知功能和老龄化。

The non-coding genome is recognized as a major player in orchestrating gene expression in higher eukaryotes. This project aims to identify regions of the human genome that are important for gene expression during neuronal differentiation and depolarisation (i.e. neural enhancers), and to investigate their evolutionary properties. The roles of non-coding DNA in regulating the dynamic gene expression patterns underlying complex human brain functions remains to be elucidated. By combining transcriptome quantification and bioinformatics methods, this project will close an important knowledge gap in our understanding of transcriptional regulation underlying human brain function. This will provide benefits such as the potential to influence public health policy including in cognitive functions and aging.