The human gastrointestinal tract-specific transcriptome and proteome as defined by RNA sequencing and antibody-based profiling

In a recent study by scientists from the Human Protein Atlas project and colleagues, a genome-wide transcriptomics analysis combined with immunohistochemistry-based protein profiling was performed to describe the gene and protein expression patterns that define the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

The GIT organs (stomach, duodenum, jejunum/ileum and colon) were compared to gene expression levels in 23 other normal human tissues. Genes specifically expressed by the GIT were profiled using immunohistochemistry to sub-localize the corresponding proteins into sub-cellular compartments and cell types.

The researchers found that approximately 75% of all human protein-coding genes were expressed in at least one of the GIT tissues, only 51 genes showed enriched expression in either one of the GIT tissues, and an additional 83 genes were enriched in two or more GIT tissues.

Most GIT-enriched genes were well-known, but a number of previously uncharacterized or poorly studied genes were identified as GIT-enriched. For instance, NXPE1 which is enriched in the colon, and NLRP6 which was primarily found in the small intestine.

Access the Tissue Atlas data for NXPE1 in normal tissue.

Access the Tissue Atlas data for NLRP6 in normal tissue.

Visit the human gastrointestinal tract proteome knowledge page:

Read the full analysis of the human gastrointestinal tract-specific transcriptome and proteome here.