Andrew Yoo, PhD

Associate Professor of Developmental Biology

Generation of human neurons by microRNA-mediated direct somatic reprogramming and disease modeling Read More

Generation of human neurons by microRNA-mediated direct somatic reprogramming and disease modeling

Examples of human neurons directly converted (reprogrammed) from adult fibroblasts.

We are interested in molecular mechanisms that govern neurogenesis and develop cellular reprogramming methods to generate specific subtypes of human neurons by directly converting fibroblasts. Our work centers around two brain-enriched microRNAs (miR-9/9* and miR-124) that target components of chromatin remodeling complexes and influence chromatin landscape. The microRNA-mediated reprogramming propagates the epigenetic cellular age stored in starting adult fibroblasts. By deriving specific neuronal subtypes by the microRNA-induced neuronal state with region-specific transcription factors, we seek to develop patient-neuron platforms of various adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and primary tauopathy.

Updated March 2021