Epigenetics, Wnt signaling, and stem cells: the Pygo2 connection.
Stem cells use both transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms to control gene expression and regulate tissue development and homeostasis. In this issue, Gu et al. (Gu, B., P. Sun, Y. Yuan, R.C. Moraes, A. Li, A. Teng, A. Agrawal, C. Rhéaume, V. Bilanchone, J.M. Veltmaat, et al. 2009. J. Cell Biol. 185:811-826) reveal an important link between these two mechanisms in mammary epithelial stem cells by showing that transcriptional activation of beta-catenin downstream of Wnt signaling can be regulated epigenetically through a chromatin remodeling factor, Pygo2.
Horsley
Valerie
V
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06522, USA. valerie.horsley@yale.edu
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000196:embryology; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins