Olig2 protein, a member of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family, was
introduced into the mouse embryonic carcinoma cell line P19 for induction of motor neuron
differentiation. We show that Olig2 protein has the ability to permeate the cell membrane
without the addition of a protein transduction domain (PTD), similar to other basic helix-loop-
helix transcription factors such as MyoD and NeuroD2. Motor neuron differentiation was
evaluated for the elongation of neurites and the expression of choline acetyltransferase …