Epigenetic Mechanisms Regulating Differentiation of Neural Stem/Precursor Cells

Abstract

Differentiation of neural stem/precursor cells (NS/PCs) into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes during mammalian brain development is a carefully controlled and timed event. Increasing evidences suggest that epigenetic regulation is necessary to drive this. Here, we provide an overview of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the developing mammalian embryonic forebrain. Histone methylation is a key factor but other epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and noncoding RNAs also partake during fate determination. As numerous epigenetic modifications have been identified, future studies on timing and regional specificity of these modifications will further deepen our understanding of how intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms participate together to precisely control brain development.

Keywords::

• brain development
• differentiation
• DNA methylation
• histone methylation
• miRNA
• polycomb groups

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas ‘Neural Diversity and Neocortical Organization’ to K Nakashima, and by JST, CREST to K Nakashima and M Namihira. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas ‘Neural Diversity and Neocortical Organization’ to K Nakashima, and by JST, CREST to K Nakashima and M Namihira. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.