Global studies of QKI-dependent transcriptome in Schwann cell precursors

Schwann cells are the main glial cells of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that help form the myelin sheath around neuronal axons. Previously, we have presented PSC differentiation method to produce multipotent Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) as a promising source of functional Schwann cells. However, the cellular and molecular characteristics of PSC-derived SCPs are had not yet been fully specified. Therefore, determining their cellular and molecular characteristics is required for future potential therapeutic application in PNS diseases. RNA-binding proteins play important roles in RNA metabolism, including cellular processes ranging from mRNA splicing to mRNA translation. In particular, quaking RNA binding protein (QKI) has been known to control RNA processing of many glial cell-related gene. However, the role of QKI in SCPs is currently unclear. We performed transcriptome analysis using normal and QKI-silenced SCPs.