# Identifying the gene regulatory network of neurogenin

> **NIH NIH R15** · KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $406,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Schizophrenia is a highly prevalent and debilitating neurological disorder that affects between 0.3% and
0.6% of the U.S. population. There is a strong genetic component to schizophrenia, and Genome-Wide
Association Studies have identified over 100 candidate loci that contribute to this disease. Among this list is the
transcription factor neurogenin1. As a proneural transcription factor capable of directing neurogenesis, this gene
has the potential to control the expression of multiple genes during nervous system development and function.
Despite this, little is known about the identity of neurogenin’s downstream transcriptional targets, creating an
imperative for further study. We propose to investigate the gene regulatory network surrounding neurogenin
using the nematode C. elegans as a tractable model for these studies. We recently performed a comparative
transcriptome study on C. elegans wild type and ngn-1/neurogenin mutants during embryogenesis. This
identified nearly 600 genes that are under direct or indirect neurogenin transcriptional control. We hypothesize
that human orthologs of neurogenin transcriptional targets have a strong possibility of being schizophrenia loci
in their own right. This proposed study will use chromatin immunoprecipitation to identify neurogenin binding
sites in the worm genome, then use these data to cross-reference against our comparative transcriptome dataset
to delineate direct versus indirect neurogenin transcriptional targets. We will validate these results using GFP
reporter gene studies, with a focus on contextualizing neurogenin’s control of downstream transcriptional
regulators. Finally, we will use recently published single cell RNA sequencing datasets, coupled with an
unpublished ngn-1 expression lineage, to predict and validate genes that may control ngn-1’s transcription. This
innovative approach will contextualize up-stream regulators as part of the neurogenin gene regulatory network.
Homan orthologs of these genes may also contribute to the development of schizophrenia. This project directly
addresses fundamental mechanisms of nervous system development and gene regulation. In addition, it will
accomplish both broad and specific AREA program goals, including enhancing Kennesaw State University’s
research environment and exposing students to high quality research through direct participation.
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 11/07) Page 1 Continuation Format Page

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10114365
- **Project number:** 1R15GM140472-01
- **Recipient organization:** KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Martin Lyn Hudson
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $406,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2024-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10114365

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10114365, Identifying the gene regulatory network of neurogenin (1R15GM140472-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10114365. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*