Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

Guided Differentiation of Mature Kidney Podocytes from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Under Chemically Defined Conditions
Published on: July 2, 2020
Chromatin-based mechanisms of renal epithelial differentiation
Kameswaran Surendran1, Raphael Kopan
1Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. surendran_k@wustl.edu
Abstract:
Successful regenerative renal medicine depends on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which diverse phenotypes of epithelial cells differentiate from metanephric mesenchyme to populate nephrons. Whereas many genes are maintained in a poised state within the population of pluripotent progenitors, specialized epithelial functions reflect the selective expression of a subset of genes and the repression of all others. Here we highlight some common mechanisms of cell differentiation and epigenetic regulation to discuss their implications for renal epithelial development, repair, and disease.
Related Concept Videos
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
Cellular Differentiation
A zygote is a...
Chromatin Modification in 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...
Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the timing and level of...
Forced Transdifferentiation
Artificial transdifferentiation occurs...
Nephrons
