Retinoic acid induction of ES-cell-derived neurons: the radial glia connection

Neuronal induction by retinoic acid (RA) is commonly used in embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation. Two recent papers show that this paradigm induces a population of neurogenic precursors with properties of radial glia. Upon differentiation, RA-treated cells give rise to a defined and developmentally restricted neuronal lineage. This role of RA in cell fate specification provides new perspectives for studying the radial glia–neuron transition and for generating homogenous populations of neurons from ES cells.