功能性神经元转分化是指从终末分化的体细胞，如成纤维细胞，转分化为功能性神经元，是细胞重编程研究的一个最前沿、最热门的领域。表观遗传调控可能参与了功能性神经元转化的过程。但是，有哪些表观遗传因子在神经元转分化过程中发挥作用仍不清楚，表观遗传调控因子在神经元转分化过程中的详细作用机制也需要深入研究。功能性神经元的转分化是基于早期神经发育和干细胞神经定向分化理论和机制而建立和发展的，因此，研究干细胞神经定向分化过程中的表观遗传调控对于揭示神经元转分化的表观遗传机制具有重要的指导和补充作用。在本项目，我们将从细胞重编程之神经元转分化的表观遗传调控和干细胞神经定向分化的表观遗传机制两个方面，从不同细胞间的转分化和正向的干细胞分化两个角度，系统地揭示神经元转分化的表观遗传机制。

Neural transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, is a process in which one type of mature somatic cell, such as fibroblast, transforms into functional mature neurons. Now, neural transdifferentiation is one of the most important and hot research areas of cell reprogramming. We hypothesize that epigenetic regulation might play an important role in the process of neural transdifferentiation, but little is known about underlying mechanism of epigenetic regulation of neural transdifferentiation. Since the neural transdifferentiation is based on the development of neural induction and neurogenesis both in vivo and in vitro, the studies on the epigenetic regulation involved in early neural development should be helpful to uncover the epigenetic regulation in neural transdifferentiation. In this project, we will focus on studying the epigenetic regulation involved in both the neural differentiation of pluripotent stem cell and the conversion from fibroblast to neuron, and try to elucidate the epigenetic mechanism of neural transdifferentiation and cell reprogramming.