Complex regulation of Olig2 activity during spinal cord development

The transcription factor Olig2 is essential for the specification of neurons and oligodendrocytes, as well as a subset of astrocytes during both neural tube and telencephalon development. Yet, how this single transcription factor is capable of generating these disparate cell types has remained largely unknown. This work elucidates multiple mechanisms, including temporal phosphorylation and dimerization partner choice, which govern the developmental action of Olig2.