Key Protein Helps Stem Cells Remain Undifferentiated
Researchers Identify Way in which Stem Cells Divide without Differentiating
Article link here.
Research has provided more information about stem cells over the past few decades; however, there is still a lot that we do not know about how exactly stem cells function. Another aspect of stem cells that is still not well understood is how exactly stem cells differentiate, but we know it is regulated by a complex series of chemical reactions. However, thanks to recent research we now know how stem cells maintain their undifferentiated state. This discovery has important implications because by understanding how stem cells remain differentiated, we can begin to understand how they begin to specialize and differentiate.
The process of self-renewal describes how stem cells can divide and proliferate, without differentiating. We knew it was guided by three protein networks, but not how these three networks integrated. The key to integrating these protein networks was recently discovered by a team of Carnegie researchers. The key is a protein called Utf1, and it serves three main purposes. Firstly, it balances activating and deactivating genes that direct the cell towards differentiation. Additionally, it blocks a feedback look that would normally inhibit continuous division. Lastly, it tags mRNA for degradation before it can serve a cellular function.
This recent discovery was very interesting to me because the future of stem cells has always intrigued me. This research provides a significant piece of information in a process that is not well understood yet. I am excited to see in 20 or 30 years when I am starting to get old, how far stem cell research has progressed, especially considering the rate it is going now. The fact that they are closer to understanding a significant part of how stem cells remain undifferentiated, makes me think that they are also one step closer to controlling and specifying differentiation.
Article link here.
Research has provided more information about stem cells over the past few decades; however, there is still a lot that we do not know about how exactly stem cells function. Another aspect of stem cells that is still not well understood is how exactly stem cells differentiate, but we know it is regulated by a complex series of chemical reactions. However, thanks to recent research we now know how stem cells maintain their undifferentiated state. This discovery has important implications because by understanding how stem cells remain differentiated, we can begin to understand how they begin to specialize and differentiate.
The process of self-renewal describes how stem cells can divide and proliferate, without differentiating. We knew it was guided by three protein networks, but not how these three networks integrated. The key to integrating these protein networks was recently discovered by a team of Carnegie researchers. The key is a protein called Utf1, and it serves three main purposes. Firstly, it balances activating and deactivating genes that direct the cell towards differentiation. Additionally, it blocks a feedback look that would normally inhibit continuous division. Lastly, it tags mRNA for degradation before it can serve a cellular function.
This recent discovery was very interesting to me because the future of stem cells has always intrigued me. This research provides a significant piece of information in a process that is not well understood yet. I am excited to see in 20 or 30 years when I am starting to get old, how far stem cell research has progressed, especially considering the rate it is going now. The fact that they are closer to understanding a significant part of how stem cells remain undifferentiated, makes me think that they are also one step closer to controlling and specifying differentiation.
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