Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocyte Precursors
Published on: May 19, 2010
The bHLH transcription factor Olig2 promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation in collaboration with Nkx2.2
1Division of Biology 216-76, California Institute of Technology, 1201 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Abstract:
Olig2, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is expressed in a restricted domain of the spinal cord ventricular zone that sequentially generates motoneurons and oligodendrocytes. Just prior to oligo-dendrocyte precursor formation, the domains of Olig2 and Nkx2.2 expression switch from being mutually exclusive to overlapping, and Neurogenins1 and 2 are extinguished within this region. Coexpression of Olig2 with Nkx2.2 in the spinal cord promotes ectopic and precocious oligodendrocyte differentiation. Both proteins function as transcriptional repressors in this assay. This effect is blocked by forced expression of Neurogenin1. By contrast, misexpression of Olig2 alone derepresses Neurogenins and promotes motoneuron differentiation. Olig2 therefore functions sequentially in motoneuron and oligodendrocyte fate specification. This dual action is enabled by spatio-temporal changes in the expression domains of other transcription factors with which Olig2 functionally interacts.
More Related Videos
11:11Preparation of Rat Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cultures and Quantification of Oligodendrogenesis Using Dual-infrared Fluorescence Scanning
Published on: February 17, 2016
12:29Identifying Transcription Factor Olig2 Genomic Binding Sites in Acutely Purified PDGFRα+ Cells by Low-cell Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing Analysis
Published on: April 16, 2018
Related Concept Videos
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Master Transcription Regulators
General Transcription Factors
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming