Mouse embryonic stem cells can differentiate via multiple paths to the same state.

ABSTRACT: In embryonic development, cells differentiate through stereotypical sequences of intermediate states to generate particular mature fates. By contrast, driving differentiation by ectopically expressing terminal transcription factors (direct programming) can generate similar fates by alternative routes. How differentiation in direct programming relates to embryonic differentiation is unclear. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing to compare two motor neuron differentiation protocols: a standard protocol approximating the embryonic lineage, and a direct programming method. Both initially undergo similar early neural commitment. Later, the direct programming path diverges into a novel transitional state rather than following the expected embryonic spinal intermediates. The novel state in direc

SUBMITTER: Briggs JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5648529 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature