Article:
This was an interesting article that introduced a newly discovered gene, NeuroD1. NeuroD1 allows the formation of new brain cells by acting as a master regulator of a large number of genes involved reprogramming transcription factor and chromatin required for neurogenesis. The understanding of such a gene and how the brain develops in the first place is crucial for developing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, where neurons are irreversibly lost. In the paper, Dr.Tiwari and his colleagues showed that NeuroD1 is only expressed in brain stem cells and epigenetically turns on genes that are normally turned off during development. Surprisingly, the genes remain switched on even when NeuroD1 is later switched off, suggesting that permanent epigenetic marks are left to guide neuronal differentiation in the cell. This is similar to how iPSCs are exposed to different reprogramming factors that drive differentiation to become a specific cell type. This new discovery can thus aid future advancements in stem cell technology and therapies.