Rao Z, Wang R, Li S, Shi Y, Mo L, Han S, Yuan J, Jing N, Cheng L. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Ascl1-Mediated Astrocyte-to-Neuron Conversion.
Stem Cell Reports 2021;
16:534-47. [PMID:
33577795 DOI:
10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct neuronal reprogramming potentially provides valuable sources for cell-based therapies. Proneural gene Ascl1 converts astrocytes into induced neuronal (iN) cells efficiently both in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. By combining RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing, we found that the expression of 1,501 genes was markedly changed during the early stages of Ascl1-induced astrocyte-to-neuron conversion and that the regulatory regions of 107 differentially expressed genes were directly bound by ASCL1. Among Ascl1's direct targets, Klf10 regulates the neuritogenesis of iN cells at the early stage, Myt1 and Myt1l are critical for the electrophysiological maturation of iN cells, and Neurod4 and Chd7 are required for the efficient conversion of astrocytes into neurons. Together, this study provides more insights into understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Ascl1-mediated astrocyte-to-neuron conversion and will be of value for the application of direct neuronal reprogramming.
RNA-seq and ChIP-seq were used to study Ascl1-induced astrocyte-to-neuron conversion
Early Klf10 regulates neuritogenesis and electrophysiological properties of iN cells
Myt1 and Myt1l are critical for the electrophysiological maturation of iN cells
Neurod4 and Chd7 are required for efficient conversion of astrocytes to neurons
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