title: Stem Cell Ribonomics: RNA-Binding Proteins and Gene Networks in Stem Cell Differentiation.
abstract: Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the ability to self-renew and the potential to differentiate into all body cell types. Stem cells follow a developmental genetic program and are able to respond to alterations in the environment through various signaling pathways. The mechanisms that control these processes involve the activation of transcription followed by a series of post-transcriptional events. These post-transcriptional steps are mediated by the interaction of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with defined subpopulations of RNAs creating a regulatory gene network. Characterizing these RNA-protein networks is essential to understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying the control of stem cell fate. Ribonomics is the combination of classical biochemical purification protocols with the high-throughput identification of transcripts applied to the functional characterization of RNA-protein complexes. Here, we describe the different approaches that can be used in a ribonomic approach and how they have contributed to understanding the function of several RBPs with central roles in stem cell biology.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells Basic Biology Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shigunov
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells Basic Biology Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dallagiovanna
keywords: RNA-binding proteins; differentiation; gene network; ribonomics; stem cells