Isolation and Neuronal Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

Forced expression of specific neuronal transcription factors in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) can lead to their direct conversion into functional neurons. Direct neuronal reprogramming has become a powerful tool to characterize individual factors and molecular mechanisms involved in forced and normal neurogenesis and to generate neuronal cell types for in vitro studies. Here we provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of MEFs devoid of neural tissue and their direct reprogramming into functional neurons by overexpression of neuronal reprogramming factors (Ascl1, Brn2, and Myt1l) using lentiviral vectors. This method enables quick and efficient generation of mouse neurons in vitro for versatile functional and mechanistic characterization.