A Myt1 family transcription factor defines neuronal fate by repressing non-neuronal genes Journal Article
| Authors: | Lee, J.; Taylor, C. A.; Barnes, K. M.; Shen, A.; Stewart, E. V.; Chen, A.; Xiang, Y. K.; Bao, Z.; Shen, K. |
| Article Title: | A Myt1 family transcription factor defines neuronal fate by repressing non-neuronal genes |
| Abstract: | Cellular differentiation requires both activation of target cell transcriptional programs and repression of non-target cell programs. The Myt1 family of zinc finger transcription factors contributes to fibroblast to neuron reprogramming in vitro. Here, we show that ztf-11 (Zinc-finger Transcription Factor-11), the sole Caenorhabditis elegans Myt1 homolog, is required for neurogenesis in multiple neuronal lineages from previously differentiated epithelial cells, including a neuron generated by a developmental epithelial-to-neuronal transdifferentiation event. ztf-11 is exclusively expressed in all neuronal precursors with remarkable specificity at single-cell resolution. Loss of ztf-11 leads to upregulation of non-neuronal genes and reduced neurogenesis. Ectopic expression of ztf-11 in epidermal lineages is sufficient to produce additional neurons. ZTF-11 functions together with the MuvB corepressor complex to suppress the activation of non-neuronal genes in neurons. These results dovetail with the ability of Myt1l (Myt1-like) to drive neuronal transdifferentiation in vitro in vertebrate systems. Together, we identified an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to specify neuronal cell fate by repressing non-neuronal genes. © 2019, Lee et al. |
| Keywords: | genetics; developmental biology; genomics; neurogenesis; c. elegans; neuronal differentiation; transcriptional repression; myt1; muvb complex; ztf-11 |
| Journal Title: | eLife |
| Volume: | 8 |
| ISSN: | 2050-084X |
| Publisher: | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. |
| Date Published: | 2019-08-06 |
| Start Page: | e46703 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.7554/eLife.46703 |
| PUBMED: | 31386623 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC6684318 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Source: Scopus |
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