This discovery has led to the development of a treatment able to eliminate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in mice.
The PTB protein researchers were studying is known for its general role in activating or deactivating genes within a cell.
In an attempt to better understand how PTB contributes to cell function, researchers silenced the PTB gene using a technique called siRNA in a type of connective tissue cell, called a fibroblast.
The researchers grew the fibroblasts in petri dishes, silenced PTB, and waited a couple of weeks to check on the fibroblasts and observe any changes.
When the researchers checked the fibroblasts, they discovered very few fibroblasts remained in the dishes.
Instead, the dishes contained mostly neurons, meaning they had unintentionally discovered a way to transform fibroblasts into neurons.
Subsequent experiments revealed the researchers had realised they could also turn other cells into neurons.
When they silenced PTB in a type of non-neuronal brain cell known as an astrocyte, they were also able to generate neurons.
