Epigenetics: judge, jury and executioner of stem cell fate.
Emerging evidence is shedding light on a large and complex network of epigenetic modifications at play in human stem cells. This "epigenetic landscape" governs the fine-tuning and precision of gene expression programs that define the molecular basis of stem cell pluripotency, differentiation and reprogramming. This review will focus on recent progress in our understanding of the processes that govern this landscape in stem cells, such as histone modification, DNA methylation, alterations of chromatin structure due to chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNA activity. Further investigation into stem cell epigenetics promises to provide novel advances in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of human diseases.
Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA.
James R
JR
Tollervey
Victoria V
VV
Lunyak
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated