Epigenetic Control of Embryonic Stem Cell Fate

Overview

Journal J Exp Med

Specialties Allergy & Immunology
General Medicine

Date 2010 Oct 27

PMID 20975044

Citations 62

Authors

Nicolaj Stroyer Christophersen

Kristian Helin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the preimplantation embryo and are pluripotent, as they are able to differentiate into all cell types of the adult organism. Once established, the pluripotent ES cells can be maintained under defined culture conditions, but can also be induced rapidly to differentiate. Maintaining this balance of stability versus plasticity is a challenge, and extensive studies in recent years have focused on understanding the contributions of transcription factors and epigenetic enzymes to the "stemness" properties of these cells. Identifying the molecular switches that regulate ES cell self-renewal versus differentiation can provide insights into the nature of the pluripotent state and enhance the potential use of these cells in therapeutic applications. Here, we review the latest models for how changes in chromatin methylation can modulate ES cell fate, focusing on two major repressive pathways, Polycomb group (PcG) repressive complexes and promoter DNA methylation.

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