Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...

EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research

EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research

Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are excellent models for disease research because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into most cell types. Somatic cells from a patient are isolated and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. These iPSCs are later differentiated into the desired cell type, which mirrors the diseased cell of the patient. In this way, disease models have been created for investigating diseases such as Down syndrome, type I diabetes,...

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Discovery of a Potent Small Molecule Antagonist of GRPR for the Treatment of Pruritus.

Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents·2026

Same author

TWIST1 drives endothelial-to-mesenchymal-transition to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Spatial transcriptomics reveals a key role of fibroblast-like vascular smooth muscle cells in human atherosclerotic cell crosstalk and stability.

European heart journal·2026

Same author

Defective vascular smooth muscle cell tafazzin impairs mitochondrial function and promotes atherosclerosis in preclinical models.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

SOX2 phosphorylation during mitosis limits genomic damage.

Genes & development·2025

Same author

Uncovering the regulatory landscape of early human B cell lymphopoiesis and its implications in the pathogenesis of B-ALL.

Science advances·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Reprogramming Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with a Four Transcription Factor, Doxycycline Inducible Lentiviral Transduction System

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Reprogramming Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with a Four Transcription Factor, Doxycycline Inducible Lentiviral Transduction System

Published on: November 13, 2009

Is REST required for ESC pluripotency?

Helle F Jørgensen¹, Zhou-Feng Chen, Matthias Merkenschlager

¹Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. helle.jorgensen@imperial.ac.uk

|February 27, 2009

Summary

The DNA-binding protein REST is not essential for maintaining pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Loss of REST function does not prevent ESCs from retaining their self-renewal and differentiation potential.

More Related Videos

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Published on: April 10, 2026

Generating iPS Cells from MEFS through Forced Expression of Sox-2, Oct-4, c-Myc, and Klf4

Generating iPS Cells from MEFS through Forced Expression of Sox-2, Oct-4, c-Myc, and Klf4

Published on: April 7, 2008

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Reprogramming Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with a Four Transcription Factor, Doxycycline Inducible Lentiviral Transduction System

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Reprogramming Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts with a Four Transcription Factor, Doxycycline Inducible Lentiviral Transduction System

Published on: November 13, 2009

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Published on: April 10, 2026

Generating iPS Cells from MEFS through Forced Expression of Sox-2, Oct-4, c-Myc, and Klf4

Generating iPS Cells from MEFS through Forced Expression of Sox-2, Oct-4, c-Myc, and Klf4

Published on: April 7, 2008

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Stem Cell Biology
Genetics

Background:

The DNA-binding protein REST (RE1-silencing transcription factor), also known as NRSF (neuron-restrictive silencer factor), is a transcriptional repressor.
REST is abundant in human and mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and targets numerous neuronal genes.
A recent study suggested REST controls ESC self-renewal and pluripotency, citing reduced alkaline phosphatase activity and pluripotency gene expression in REST-disrupted ESCs.

Discussion:

This study challenges the notion that REST is crucial for ESC pluripotency.
Investigated the impact of partial or complete loss of functional REST protein on ESCs.
Results indicate that REST is not a prerequisite for maintaining ESC potential.

Key Insights:

Partial or complete loss of REST function does not abolish ESC potential.
ESC marker gene expression remains unaffected despite the absence of functional REST.
REST is not required for maintaining the pluripotency of ESCs.

Outlook:

Further research may elucidate the precise role of REST in differentiated neuronal cells.
Understanding REST's function in ESCs can inform regenerative medicine strategies.
Clarifying REST's role could impact therapeutic applications involving ESCs.