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Related Concept Videos

Lineage Commitment01:21

Lineage Commitment

Commitment is the  process whereby stem cells:
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

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Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

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X-chromosome...
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric Analysis
09:41

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Published on: July 26, 2024

Stage-specific epigenetic gene silencing during thymocyte lineage commitment.

Ichiro Taniuchi1

  • 1Laboratory for Transcriptional Regulation, RCAI, RIKEN Centre for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS-RCAI) 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan.

F1000Prime Reports
|July 25, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Cellular identity is maintained through epigenetic regulation during lineage commitment. Specific silencers control gene expression, establishing heritable silencing in committed cells but reversible repression in precursors.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Cellular lineage commitment requires establishing and maintaining specific gene expression programs.
  • Epigenetic regulation, including histone and DNA modifications, is crucial for maintaining cellular memory and identity.
  • The precise control mechanisms governing epigenetic modifiers during development are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of transcriptional silencers in developmentally regulated gene silencing.
  • To explore how silencer elements establish distinct epigenetic states in precursor versus lineage-committed cells.
  • To discuss the dynamic versus permanent silencing mechanisms in the context of cell lineage commitment.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gene regulation at the Cd4 and Thpok loci as model systems.
  • Investigating the function of transcriptional silencers in establishing epigenetic states.
  • Comparing the effects of silencer elements in precursor and lineage-committed cells.

Main Results:

  • A single transcriptional silencer at the Cd4 and Thpok loci mediates gene silencing.
  • Silencers establish heritable, irreversible epigenetic silencing in lineage-committed cells.
  • The same silencer elements induce a reversible repressive state in precursor cells.

Conclusions:

  • Transcriptional silencers play a critical role in controlling heritable epigenetic silencing during cell lineage commitment.
  • Stage-specific functions of silencers lead to dynamic or permanent gene silencing depending on the cellular context.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to comprehending how cellular identity is established and maintained during development.