title: DNA asymmetry and cell fate regulation in stem cells.
abstract: The semi-conservative nature of DNA replication has suggested that identical DNA molecules within chromatids are inherited by daughter cells after cell division. Numerous reports of non-random DNA segregation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes suggest that this is not always the case, and that epigenetic marks on chromatids, if not the individual DNA strands themselves, could have distinct signatures. Their selective distribution to daughter cells provides a novel mechanism for gene and cell fate regulation by segregating chromatids asymmetrically. Here we highlight some examples and potential mechanisms that can regulate this process. We propose that cellular asymmetry is inherently present during each cell division, and that it provides an opportunity during each cell cycle for moderating cell fates.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Stem Cells & Development, Department of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, CNRS URA 2578, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, Paris F-75015, France.
authors.forename: Siham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yennek
authors.forename: Shahragim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajbakhsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060049:Asymmetric Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: 5(h)mC; 5(hydroxy)methylcytosine; 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine; 5-chloro-2′-deoxyuridine; 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine; 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine; Asymmetric; BrdU; CO-FISH; CldU; EdU; Epigenetic regulation; IdU; Immortal DNA; Mitosis; Non-random DNA segregation; PCNA; SC; TDSS; Template DNA strand cosegregation; chromosome orientation fluorescence in situ hybridization; mGSC; male germline stem cell; proliferating cell nuclear antigen; satellite cell; template DNA strand cosegregation