Global transcription analysis of immature avian erythrocytic progenitors: from self-renewal to differentiation.
The molecular mechanisms regulating the cell fate decision between self-renewal and differentiation/apoptosis in stem and progenitor cells are poorly understood. Here, we report the first comprehensive identification of genes potentially involved in the switch from self-renewal toward differentiation of primary, non-immortalized erythroid avian progenitor cells (T2EC cells). We used the Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) technique in order to identify and quantify the genome fraction functionally active in a self-renewing versus a differentiating cell population. We generated two SAGE libraries and sequenced a total of 37,589 tags, thereby obtaining the first transcriptional profile characterization of a chicken cell. Tag identification was performed using a new relational database (Identitag) developed in the laboratory, which allowed a highly satisfactory level of identification. Among 123 differentially expressed genes, 11 were investigated further and for nine of them the differential expression was subsequently confirmed by real-time PCR. The comparison of tag abundance between the two libraries revealed that only a small fraction of transcripts was differentially expressed. The analysis of their functions argue against a prominent role for a master switch in T2EC cells decision-making, but are in favor of a critical role for coordinated small variations in a relatively small number of genes that can lead to essential cellular identity changes.
Damiola
Francesca
F
Equipe 'Signalisations et identités cellulaires', Centre de Génétique Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 5534, France. Damiola@cgmc.univ-lyon1.fr
Keime
Céline
C
Gonin-Giraud
Sandrine
S
Dazy
Sébastien
S
Gandrillon
Olivier
O
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D017931:DNA Primers; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D015723:Gene Library; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers