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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...

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

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...

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

Published on: May 12, 2017

esBAF safeguards Stat3 binding to maintain pluripotency.

Noa Novershtern, Jacob H Hanna

Nature Cell Biology

|August 3, 2011

Summary

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) use the esBAF complex to maintain pluripotency by controlling chromatin accessibility. This complex prevents repressive histone modifications, ensuring key signaling pathways remain active.

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Chromatin regulation
Epigenetics

Background:

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) possess unique chromatin configurations crucial for maintaining pluripotency.
The integration of external signals into this chromatin structure to sustain pluripotency is not well understood.
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signaling, mediated by Stat3, is vital for ESC pluripotency.

Discussion:

The ESC-specific ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling (esBAF) complex plays a critical role in regulating chromatin accessibility.
esBAF prevents the deposition of repressive histone marks, specifically H3K27me3, at target sites.
This action ensures the accessibility of Stat3 binding sites, facilitating LIF signaling.

Key Insights:

The esBAF complex is essential for maintaining the open chromatin state required for pluripotency in ESCs.

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The use of SC1 (Pluripotin) to Support mESC Self-renewal in the Absence of LIF

The use of SC1 (Pluripotin) to Support mESC Self-renewal in the Absence of LIF

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Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: June 21, 2012

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A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

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Published on: May 12, 2017

The use of SC1 (Pluripotin) to Support mESC Self-renewal in the Absence of LIF

The use of SC1 (Pluripotin) to Support mESC Self-renewal in the Absence of LIF

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Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: June 21, 2012

esBAF directly counteracts Polycomb-mediated H3K27me3, a key epigenetic repressive mark.

This mechanism highlights how chromatin remodelers integrate signaling pathways to preserve stem cell identity.

Outlook:

Further investigation into esBAF's precise mechanisms could reveal new therapeutic targets for regenerative medicine.
Understanding this interplay is crucial for controlling stem cell differentiation and development.
Exploring variations in esBAF function across different cell types may offer insights into developmental disorders.