The RNA-methyltransferase Misu (NSun2) Poises Epidermal Stem Cells to Differentiate

Overview

Journal PLoS Genet

Specialty Genetics

Date 2011 Dec 7

PMID 22144916

Citations 113

Authors

Sandra Blanco

Agata Kurowski

Jennifer Nichols

Fiona M Watt

Salvador Aznar Benitah

Michaela Frye

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Homeostasis of most adult tissues is maintained by balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, but whether post-transcriptional mechanisms can regulate this process is unknown. Here, we identify that an RNA methyltransferase (Misu/Nsun2) is required to balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in skin. In the epidermis, this methyltransferase is found in a defined sub-population of hair follicle stem cells poised to undergo lineage commitment, and its depletion results in enhanced quiescence and aberrant stem cell differentiation. Our results reveal that post-transcriptional RNA methylation can play a previously unappreciated role in controlling stem cell fate.

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