Generation of diverse neural cell types through direct conversion

Figure 1 Overview of cellular differentiation, direct conversion, and reprogramming. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, and thus capable of differentiating into cells of any lineage. Reprogramming reverses this process, with forced expression of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc shown to induce pluripotency in fibroblasts, generating induced pluripotent stem cells. Cells are also capable of switching lineages during direct conversion, with forced expression of Brn2, Ascl1, and Myt1l shown to convert fibroblasts into induced neuronal cells.

Figure 2 The process of neural direct conversion, as first described by Vierbuchen et al[16]. Somatic cells (A) are transduced with inducible lentiviral vectors expressing the neuronal transcription factors Brn2, Ascl1, and Myt1l (B), and cultured in a defined neuronal induction media (C). Following culture, induced neuronal cells can be identified by positive beta III tubulin staining (D), prior to further characterisation.