Cross-lineage potential of Ascl1 uncovered by comparing diverse reprogramming regulatomes

By characterizing the epigenome of direct reprogramming processes, Qian and colleagues discovered common features of direct reprogramming. Particularly, Ascl1, the neuron reprogramming factor, activates a unique set of cardiac genes. Together with Ascl1, Mef2c efficiently induces iCM through driving Ascl1 binding away from neuronal loci to further activate cardiac program.