A large astrocyte subcluster (Synaptic Astrocytes) was marked by higher expression of genes encoding excitatory amino acid transporters 1 and 2 (glutamate transporters), glutamate receptor 2 (an AMPA receptor subunit), and glutamate synthase, suggesting that these astrocytes may play a role in maintaining glutamatergic synapses (Fig. 1d, Supplementary Data 5 and 6). The other subcluster (Structural Astrocytes) was marked by high expression of cytoskeleton-related protein-coding genes GFAP and DCLK1, extracellular matrix protein tenascin C, and CD44, encoding a protein involved in cell adhesion and migration, and thus may be involved in structural support or tissue repair.
