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In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: April 25, 2019
SMYD2 is induced during cell differentiation and participates in early development
Borja Sesé1, Maria J Barrero, Maria-Carme Fabregat
1Center for Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
The International Journal of Developmental Biology
|July 23, 2013
Summary
SET and MYND domain containing protein 2 (SMYD2) is crucial for human embryonic stem cell differentiation and embryonic development. Its regulation impacts endodermal marker induction and zebrafish development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Histone modifying enzymes are essential for regulating gene expression during cell differentiation and development.
- SMYD2 (SET and MYND domain containing protein 2) is a histone lysine methyltransferase.
- SMYD2 expression patterns differ between pluripotent and somatic cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of SMYD2 in human embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation.
- To explore the function of SMYD2 during early embryonic development using a zebrafish model.
Main Methods:
- Human ES cell differentiation assays with SMYD2 knockdown and overexpression.
- Analysis of endodermal marker gene expression.
- Zebrafish (Danio rerio) knockdown studies of the SMYD2 homologue (smyd2a).
- Assessment of developmental phenotypes and gene expression (ntl, Nodal-related genes) in zebrafish embryos.
Main Results:
- SMYD2 is induced during human ES cell differentiation and is more abundant in somatic cells.
- SMYD2 knockdown in human ES cells enhances endodermal differentiation.
- SMYD2 overexpression inhibits endodermal differentiation.
- Zebrafish smyd2a knockdown leads to developmental delays and tail malformations.
- Zebrafish smyd2a knockdown correlates with reduced ntl expression and increased Nodal-related gene expression.
Conclusions:
- SMYD2 plays a significant role in regulating human ES cell differentiation, particularly towards the endoderm lineage.
- SMYD2 is critical for early embryonic development, as evidenced by zebrafish studies.
- These findings highlight SMYD2 as a key epigenetic regulator in both stem cell differentiation and embryonic morphogenesis.
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