The present invention relates to a method of isolating neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells from a population of embryonic stem cells. This method comprises selecting a promoter which functions only in neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells and introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a marker protein under control of said promoter into the population of embryonic stem cells. The population of embryonic stem cells are then differentiated to produce a mixed population of cells comprising neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells. The neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells are then allowed to express the marker protein. Cells expressing the marker protein are separated from the mixed population of cells, where the separated cells are neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells. In an alternative embodiment, the embryonic stem cells are differentiated before the nucleic acid is introduced. The present invention also relates to the resulting neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells themselves.
Promoter-based isolation, purification, expansion, and transplantation of neuronal progenitor cells, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, or neural stem cells from a population of embryonic stem cells