Unlocking the Secrets of Human Neuronal Maturation through Epigenetic Manipulation

Researchers have discovered an epigenetic barrier that sets the pace of human neuronal maturation, which is protracted compared to other species. They developed a platform to generate synchronized populations of cortical neurons from human pluripotent stem cells, allowing for the study of neuronal maturation over months in vitro. The study tracked the morphological and functional development of neurons and identified a core set of chromatin regulator genes whose downregulation is associated with neuronal maturation. Loss-of-function studies for these genes induced precocious maturation, suggesting the existence of an epigenetic "brake" that gradually releases to ensure a protracted unfolding of neuronal maturation programs.