Direct Conversion of Fibroblasts to Neurons by Reprogramming PTB-Regulated microRNA Circuits

ABSTRACT: The induction of pluripotency or trans-differentiation of one cell type to another can be accomplished with cell lineage-specific transcription factors. Here we report that repression of a single RNA binding protein PTB, which occurs during normal brain development via the action of miR-124, is sufficient to induce trans-differentiation of fibroblasts into functional neurons. Besides its traditional role in regulated splicing, we show that PTB has a previously undocumented function in the regulation of microRNA functions, suppressing or enhancing microRNA targeting by competitive binding on target mRNA or altering local RNA secondary structure. A key event during neuronal induction is the relief of PTB-mediated blockage of microRNA action on multiple components of the REST complex

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Jie Huang 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-42701 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress