Unraveling epigenetic regulation in embryonic stem cells.
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can replicate indefinitely while retaining the capacity to differentiate into functionally distinct cell types. ES cells proliferate and differentiate without detectable genetic changes, indicating that these processes are controlled by epigenetic factors. Here we describe what is known about the epigenetics of ES cells and speculate that a dynamic balance among at least three epigenetic elements (chromatin structure, DNA methylation, and microRNAs), in conjunction with transcription factors, contributes to the maintenance of pluripotence. Understanding the interactions among these factors will be critical to the development of improved strategies to reprogram differentiated cells or direct differentiation of pluripotent cells.
Bibikova
Marina
M
Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Laurent
Louise C
LC
Ren
Bing
B
Loring
Jeanne F
JF
Fan
Jian-Bing
JB
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors