Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

RNA-based Reprogramming of Human Primary Fibroblasts into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
11:38

RNA-based Reprogramming of Human Primary Fibroblasts into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: November 26, 2018

11.5K

MicroRNAs control the apoptotic threshold in primed pluripotent stem cells through regulation of BIM

Barbara Pernaute1, Thomas Spruce1, Kimberley M Smith2

  • 1British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom;

Genes & Development
|September 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate apoptosis in mammalian stem cells. Specific miRNA families fine-tune BIM protein levels, acting as a crucial buffer for cell survival during early development.

Area of Science:

  • Stem cell biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Mammalian primed pluripotent stem cells exhibit high susceptibility to cell death due to a low apoptotic threshold.
  • Mechanisms regulating this apoptotic threshold in stem cells are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation in controlling apoptosis within the post-implantation epiblast.
  • To identify specific miRNA families involved in regulating the apoptotic threshold in stem cells.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miRNA-mediated gene regulation in mammalian stem cells.
  • Investigating the impact of specific miRNA families on apoptotic pathways.
  • Quantification of proapoptotic protein BIM expression levels.

Main Results:

  • MicroRNA-mediated regulation is identified as a key mechanism controlling apoptosis in the post-implantation epiblast.
  • Three miRNA families (miR-20, miR-92, and miR-302) were found to control the mitochondrial apoptotic machinery.
  • These miRNAs fine-tune the expression levels of the proapoptotic protein BIM.

Conclusions:

  • The identified miRNA families are essential for maintaining cell survival in stem cells.
  • These miRNAs act as a buffer, balancing the stem cells' propensity for differentiation and cell death.
  • Understanding this regulation is critical for stem cell biology and developmental processes.
Keywords:
BimDicerapoptosisepiblastmicroRNAspluripotency

More Related Videos

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening07:18

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

Published on: May 12, 2017

8.7K
Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs11:00

Biotin-based Pulldown Assay to Validate mRNA Targets of Cellular miRNAs

Published on: June 12, 2018

13.5K

Related Concept Videos

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
6.1K
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
6.1K
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming01:29

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...
2.0K
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells01:32

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...
1.5K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.0K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
20.8K