RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of Eight Non-Coding Genomic Elements Regulating Neurodevelopmental Genes JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 150482 DO 10.1101/150482 A1 Francisco J. Novo YR 2017 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/06/28/150482.abstract AB Many non-coding regulatory elements conserved in vertebrates regulate the expression of genes involved in development and play an important role in the evolution of morphology through the rewiring of developmental gene networks. Available biological datasets allow the identification of non-coding regulatory elements with high confidence; furthermore, chromatin conformation data can be used to confirm enhancer-promoter interactions in specific tissue types and developmental stages. We have devised an analysis pipeline that integrates datasets about gene expression, enhancer activity, chromatin accessibility, epigenetic marks, and Hi-C contact frequencies in various brain tissues and developmental stages, leading to the identification of eight regulatory elements of three genes with important roles in brain development in vertebrates. We have then performed comparative sequence and microsynteny analyses in order to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the regulatory landscape around these genes; we observe a general pattern with a mosaic of ancient regulatory elements conserved in early vertebrates together with younger elements that appear to be mammal and primate innovations.