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Related Concept Videos

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming01:24

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.
Forced Transdifferentiation01:28

Forced Transdifferentiation

Transdifferentiation, also known as lineage reprogramming, was first discovered by Selman and Kafatos in 1974 in silkmoths. They observed that the moths’ cuticle-producing cells transformed into salt-producing cells. Many such cases of natural transdifferentiation occur in organisms. In humans, pancreatic alpha cells can become beta cells. In newts, the loss of the eye’s lens causes the pigmented epithelial cells to transdifferentiate into the lens cells.
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Regulated mRNA Transport02:22

Regulated mRNA Transport

In eukaryotes, transcription and translation are compartmentalized; an mRNA is first synthesized in the nucleus and then selectively transported to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Before transport, a pre-mRNA undergoes several steps of post-transcriptional modifications including splicing, 5' capping, and the addition of a poly-adenine tail. Various proteins bind to the pre-mRNA during these modifications. The mRNA transport takes place with the help of multiple proteins playing specific...
Transcription01:17

Transcription

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in correctly synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcriptional regulation is responsible for the differentiation of different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
In eukaryotes,...

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Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
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Published on: February 17, 2017

Transcriptome transfer produces a predictable cellular phenotype.

Jai-Yoon Sul1, Chia-wen K Wu, Fanyi Zeng

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|April 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers demonstrate that transferring the complete RNA content (transcriptome) from astrocytes to neurons can reprogram neurons into astrocyte-like cells. This RNA-induced phenotype remodeling highlights cellular plasticity in differentiated cells.

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Published on: June 15, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cellular phenotype, determined by gene and protein expression, was previously considered largely fixed in differentiated cells.
  • Differentiated postmitotic cells were thought to possess limited capacity for phenotypic plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for cellular phenotype conversion through transcriptome transfer.
  • To determine if neuronal cells can be reprogrammed into astrocyte-like cells.

Main Methods:

  • Transfer of astrocyte transcriptome into differentiated, non-dividing rat neurons.
  • High-resolution single-cell analyses including morphology, quantitative PCR, microarray, and functional assays.
  • Time-dependent observation of cellular changes over several weeks.

Main Results:

  • Astrocyte RNA successfully converted 44% of host neurons into functional astrocyte-like cells.
  • Phenotypic changes were observed in a time-dependent manner and were persistent.
  • The transferred RNA population contained the necessary components for establishing astrocyte identity.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular phenotypes can be remodeled by the transfer of RNA, a process termed transcriptome-induced phenotype remodeling.
  • Differentiated neurons exhibit plasticity and can be reprogrammed into other cell types.
  • This study provides a high-resolution view of the molecular and functional basis of cell identity.