title: MicroRNAs: key regulators of stem cells.
abstract: The hallmark of a stem cell is its ability to self-renew and to produce numerous differentiated cells. This unique property is controlled by dynamic interplays between extrinsic signalling, epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations. Recent research indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) have an important role in regulating stem cell self-renewal and differentiation by repressing the translation of selected mRNAs in stem cells and differentiating daughter cells. Such a role has been shown in embryonic stem cells, germline stem cells and various somatic tissue stem cells. These findings reveal a new dimension of gene regulation in controlling stem cell fate and behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 10 Amistad Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8002, USA.
authors.forename: Vamsi K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Gangaraju
authors.forename: Haifan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering