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Related Concept Videos

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells01:32

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming01:14

Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming is the process of switching gene expression of one cell type to that of another cell type, usually from a differentiated cell state to an undifferentiated cell state. Differentiation occurs during processes such as development and morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignancy. Cells can also be artificially induced to reprogram their gene expression by techniques such as nuclear transfer, induced pluripotency, and cell fusion. Such techniques have many applications in...
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.
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming01:29

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...

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Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
10:28

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers

Published on: September 20, 2018

Cellular reprogramming: chromatin puts on the brake.

Piali Sengupta1, Tim Schedl

  • 1Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. sengupta@brandeis.edu

Current Biology : CB
|February 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists can reprogram specialized germ cells into neurons using specific gene manipulations. This breakthrough in directed reprogramming offers insights into cell development and potential therapeutic applications.

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Reprogramming Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to Pluripotency
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Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans
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Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans

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Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans
07:53

Application of RNAi and Heat-shock-induced Transcription Factor Expression to Reprogram Germ Cells to Neurons in C. elegans

Published on: January 1, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Directed reprogramming generates specific cell types from differentiated cells.
  • This process holds potential for regenerative medicine and understanding cellular development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate efficient reprogramming of Caenorhabditis elegans germ cells into neurons.
  • To explore the underlying genetic mechanisms of directed cell fate conversion.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized gene knockdown of a histone chaperone gene in C. elegans.
  • Employed ectopic expression of a terminal selector transcription factor.
  • Analyzed the resulting cell type conversion from germ cells to neurons.

Main Results:

  • Achieved efficient reprogramming of germ cells into functional neurons.
  • Identified key genetic factors (histone chaperone, transcription factor) driving this conversion.
  • Demonstrated the plasticity of differentiated cells in C. elegans.

Conclusions:

  • Directed reprogramming is a viable strategy for generating specific cell types, like neurons, from germ cells.
  • This study provides a novel method for cell fate conversion in C. elegans.
  • Findings contribute to understanding developmental plasticity and offer potential therapeutic avenues.