Generation of functional floor plate or neuroectoderm cells from human embryonic stem cells

This protocol describes a method to generate floor plate-like cells and neural ectoderm-like cells. Floor plate-like cells are generated by incubation with Noggin, SB431542 (TGFbeta inhibitor) and sonic hedgehog for 11 days. The differentiated cells express and secrete specific floor plate markers. Alternatively, if only Noggin and SB431542 are added, cells express higher levels of neural ectoderm markers. Microarray analysis reveals the specific gene markers for each cell fate.