Making Neurons, Made Easy: The Use of Neurogenin-2 in Neuronal Differentiation

Overview

Journal Stem Cell Reports

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2021 Dec 31

PMID 34971564

Citations 38

Authors

Amy J Hulme

Simon Maksour

Mitchell St-Clair Glover

Sara Miellet

Mirella Dottori

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Directed neuronal differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), neural progenitors, or fibroblasts using transcription factors has allowed for the rapid and highly reproducible differentiation of mature and functional neurons. Exogenous expression of the transcription factor Neurogenin-2 (NGN2) has been widely used to generate different populations of neurons, which have been used in neurodevelopment studies, disease modeling, drug screening, and neuronal replacement therapies. Could NGN2 be a "one-glove-fits-all" approach for neuronal differentiations? This review summarizes the cellular roles of NGN2 and describes the applications and limitations of using NGN2 for the rapid and directed differentiation of neurons.

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