Dissecting the Transcriptional Regulatory Network of Embryonic Stem Cells

Download or read book Dissecting the Transcriptional Regulatory Network of Embryonic Stem Cells written by Megan F. Cole and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The process by which a single fertilized egg develops into a human being with over 200 cell types, each with a distinct gene expression pattern controlling its cellular state, is poorly understood. An understanding of the transcriptional regulatory networks that establish and maintain gene expression programs in mammalian cells is fundamental to understand development and should provide the foundation for improved diagnosis and treatment of disease. Although it is not yet feasible to map the entirety of these networks in vertebrate cells, recent work in embryonic stem (ES) cells has demonstrated that core features of the network can be discovered by focusing on key transcriptional regulators and their target genes. Here, I describe important insights that have emerged from such studies and highlight how similar approaches can be used to discover the core networks of other vertebrate cell types. Knowledge of the regulatory networks controlling gene expression programs and cell states can guide efforts to reprogram cell states and holds great promise for both disease therapeutics and regenerative medicine.