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Epigenetic Regulation

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Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
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Reusable Single Cell for Iterative Epigenomic Analyses

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Implications of Epigenetic Variability within a Cell Population for "Cell Type" Classification.

Inna Tabansky¹, Joel N H Stern², Donald W Pfaff¹

¹Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University New York, NY, USA.

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

|January 7, 2016

Summary

Recent single-cell analysis reveals nerve cell variability. We propose a new definition of cell types, embracing natural variation and epigenetic adjustments for diverse developmental paths.

Keywords:

cell type classification functional equivalence in vitro culture single cell analysis variability in gene expression

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Area of Science:

Neurobiology
Genetics
Developmental Biology

Background:

Recent single-cell analysis reveals significant heterogeneity within previously assumed uniform cell populations.
This heterogeneity challenges traditional models of distinct cell type classification.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a revised definition of "cell type" that accounts for intrinsic cellular variability.
To integrate findings from single-cell analysis into a more flexible model of cell classification.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of recent advances in single-cell analysis.
Conceptual framework development for defining cell types based on variable properties and epigenetic plasticity.

Main Results:

A proposed definition of cell type as a group with similar, but not identical, properties, allowing for epigenetic variation.
Analogy drawn between cell type definition and species definition, emphasizing shared core properties with permissible deviations.
Demonstration of how this model accommodates natural variation in cell populations, avoiding false equivalence.

Conclusions:

The traditional, rigid definition of cell types requires revision in light of single-cell data.
A spectrum-based model, incorporating epigenetic adjustments, better reflects cellular diversity and developmental potential.
This revised approach has significant implications for understanding developmental neurobiology and cell lineage diversification.