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      Rapid single-step induction of functional neurons from human pluripotent stem cells.

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          Abstract

          Available methods for differentiating human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) into neurons are often cumbersome, slow, and variable. Alternatively, human fibroblasts can be directly converted into induced neuronal (iN) cells. However, with present techniques conversion is inefficient, synapse formation is limited, and only small amounts of neurons can be generated. Here, we show that human ESCs and iPSCs can be converted into functional iN cells with nearly 100% yield and purity in less than 2 weeks by forced expression of a single transcription factor. The resulting ES-iN or iPS-iN cells exhibit quantitatively reproducible properties independent of the cell line of origin, form mature pre- and postsynaptic specializations, and integrate into existing synaptic networks when transplanted into mouse brain. As illustrated by selected examples, our approach enables large-scale studies of human neurons for questions such as analyses of human diseases, examination of human-specific genes, and drug screening.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Neuron
          Neuron
          Elsevier BV
          1097-4199
          0896-6273
          Jun 05 2013
          : 78
          : 5
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
          Article
          NIHMS492323 S0896-6273(13)00449-2
          10.1016/j.neuron.2013.05.029
          3751803
          23764284
          b79b2c5c-18fc-4cf0-8411-0393d1a2108d
          Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
          History

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