MicroRNA regulation of stem cell fate.
MicroRNAs modulate target gene expression and are essential for normal development, but how does this pathway impact cell fate decisions? In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Ivey et al. (2008) find that muscle-specific microRNAs repress nonmuscle genes to direct embryonic stem cell differentiation to mesoderm and muscle.
Li
Qintong
Q
Stem Cell Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Gregory
Richard I
RI
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D035683:MicroRNAs