The zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 () promotes the conversion of mouse fibroblasts into functional neurons.

The zinc finger E-box-binding transcription factor plays a pivotal role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Numerous studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms by which contributes to this process. However, the functions of beyond the epithelial-mesenchymal transition remain largely elusive. Using a transdifferentiation system to convert mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into functional neurons via the neuronal transcription factors achaete-scute family bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor1 (), POU class 3 homeobox 2 (POU3F2/), and neurogenin 2 (Neurog2, ) (ABN), we found that was up-regulated during the early stages of transdifferentiation. Knocking down dramatically attenuated the transdifferentiation efficiency, whereas overexpression obviously increased the efficiency of transdifferentiation from MEFs to neurons. Interestingly, improved the transdifferentiation efficiency induced by even a single transcription factor ( or ). also rapidly promoted the maturation of induced neuron cells to functional neurons and improved the formation of neuronal patterns and electrophysiological characteristics. Induced neuron cells could form functional synapse after transplantation. Genome-wide RNA arrays showed that overexpression up-regulated the expression of neuron-specific genes and down-regulated the expression of epithelial-specific genes during conversion. Taken together, our results reveal a new role for in the transdifferentiation of MEFs into neurons.