Expression of Neurogenin 1 in mouse embryonic stem cells directs the differentiation of neuronal precursors and identifies unique patterns of down-stream gene expression.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND: Delineating the cascades of growth and transcription factor expression that shape the developing nervous system will improve our understanding of its molecular histogenesis and suggest strategies for cell replacement therapies. In the current investigation, we examined the ability of the proneural gene, Neurogenin1 (Neurog1; also Ngn1, Neurod3), to drive differentiation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESC). RESULTS: Transient expression of Neurog1 in ESC was sufficient to initiate neuronal differentiation, and produced neuronal subtypes reflecting its expression pattern in vivo. To begin to address the molecular mechanisms involved, we used microarray analysis to identify potential down-stream targets of Neurog1 expressed at sequential stages of neuronal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: ESC expressing Neurogenin1 begin to withdraw from cycle and form precursors that differentiate exclusively into neurons. This work identifies unique patterns of gene expression following expression of Neurog1, including genes and signaling pathways involved in process outgrowth and cell migration, regional differentiation of the nervous system, and cell cycle.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Velkey, JM; O'Shea, KS
Published Date
- March 2013
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 242 / 3
Start / End Page
- 230 - 253
PubMed ID
- 23288605
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC4646168
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1097-0177
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1002/dvdy.23920
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States