Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
12:02
Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
Published on: June 6, 2017
Bridges between Cell Cycle Regulation and Self-Renewal Maintenance
1Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA ; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Genes & Cancer
|May 2, 2013
Summary
Stem cells self-renew and differentiate. This review explores how cell cycle regulation and the stem cell niche influence these crucial stem cell behaviors, clarifying complex mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Cell cycle regulation
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Stem cells possess unique self-renewal and differentiation capabilities.
- Regulation of stem cell self-renewal remains incompletely understood.
- Interplay between cell cycle and stem cell fate decisions is complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the known links between cell cycle regulation and stem cell self-renewal.
- To discuss the role of the stem cell niche in regulating these processes.
- To elucidate the mechanisms governing stem cell division and fate choice.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research.
- Analysis of signaling pathways involved in self-renewal and cell cycle.
- Discussion of niche-mediated regulatory mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Cell cycle regulators significantly impact stem cell biology.
- Mechanisms linking cell cycle entry to cell fate are poorly understood.
- Multiple signals and pathways contribute to the complexity of self-renewal.
Conclusions:
- The cell cycle and self-renewal mechanisms are intricately linked in stem cells.
- The stem cell niche plays a critical role in regulating both cell cycle activity and self-renewal.
- Further research is needed to fully understand these complex regulatory networks.
Related Concept Videos
01:28The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
01:27Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division
Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
01:45Positive Regulator Molecules
To consistently produce healthy cells, the cell cycle—the process that generates daughter cells—must be precisely regulated.
02:39Positive Regulator Molecules
Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.