Biomaterial Database

Isolation and Neuronal Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts. 2021

Juan M Adrian-Segarra, and Bettina Weigel, and Moritz Mall

Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.

Forced expression of specific neuronal transcription factors in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) can lead to their direct conversion into functional neurons. Direct neuronal reprogramming has become a powerful tool to characterize individual factors and molecular mechanisms involved in forced and normal neurogenesis and to generate neuronal cell types for in vitro studies. Here we provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of MEFs devoid of neural tissue and their direct reprogramming into functional neurons by overexpression of neuronal reprogramming factors (Ascl1, Brn2, and Myt1l) using lentiviral vectors. This method enables quick and efficient generation of mouse neurons in vitro for versatile functional and mechanistic characterization.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002469	Cell Separation	Techniques for separating distinct populations of cells.	Cell Isolation,Cell Segregation,Isolation, Cell,Cell Isolations,Cell Segregations,Cell Separations,Isolations, Cell,Segregation, Cell,Segregations, Cell,Separation, Cell,Separations, Cell
D005347	Fibroblasts	Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.	Fibroblast
D005822	Genetic Vectors	DNA molecules capable of autonomous replication within a host cell and into which other DNA sequences can be inserted and thus amplified. Many are derived from PLASMIDS; BACTERIOPHAGES; or VIRUSES. They are used for transporting foreign genes into recipient cells. Genetic vectors possess a functional replicator site and contain GENETIC MARKERS to facilitate their selective recognition.	Cloning Vectors,Shuttle Vectors,Vectors, Genetic,Cloning Vector,Genetic Vector,Shuttle Vector,Vector, Cloning,Vector, Genetic,Vector, Shuttle,Vectors, Cloning,Vectors, Shuttle
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000067470	Cellular Reprogramming Techniques	Procedures used for the induction of CELLULAR REPROGRAMMING to change the terminal phenotype of a cell, such as the generation of INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS from differentiated adult cells by the forced expression of specific genes.	Cell Programming Techniques,Cell Reprogramming Techniques,Direct Cell Reprogramming Techniques,Directed Differentiation Techniques,Cell Programming Technique,Cell Reprogramming Technique,Cellular Reprogramming Technique,Differentiation Technique, Directed,Differentiation Techniques, Directed,Directed Differentiation Technique,Programming Technique, Cell,Programming Techniques, Cell,Reprogramming Technique, Cell,Reprogramming Technique, Cellular,Reprogramming Techniques, Cell,Reprogramming Techniques, Cellular,Technique, Cell Programming,Technique, Cell Reprogramming,Technique, Cellular Reprogramming,Technique, Directed Differentiation,Techniques, Cell Programming,Techniques, Cell Reprogramming,Techniques, Cellular Reprogramming,Techniques, Directed Differentiation
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D014161	Transduction, Genetic	The transfer of bacterial DNA by phages from an infected bacterium to another bacterium. This also refers to the transfer of genes into eukaryotic cells by viruses. This naturally occurring process is routinely employed as a GENE TRANSFER TECHNIQUE.	Genetic Transduction,Genetic Transductions,Transductions, Genetic