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Towards understanding transcriptional networks in cellular reprogramming.
1Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|June 25, 2017
Summary
Cellular reprogramming research, primarily from induced pluripotency, is expanding to include direct transdifferentiation. New computational tools aid in understanding and advancing cellular fate transitions.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Cellular reprogramming
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Knowledge of transcription factor-mediated reprogramming largely stems from induced pluripotency studies.
- Recent research explores direct and indirect transdifferentiation, seeking shared molecular mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate shared molecular mechanisms in cellular reprogramming across different transdifferentiation contexts.
- To highlight the role of emerging computational tools in advancing reprogramming research.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of reprogramming mechanisms in induced pluripotency and transdifferentiation.
- Review and integration of computational tools for transcriptional network reconstruction.
Main Results:
- Direct and indirect transdifferentiation offer new avenues to uncover parallel mechanisms in cellular reprogramming.
- Computational tools show promise in predicting and optimizing reprogramming outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Expanding reprogramming research beyond induced pluripotency is crucial for a comprehensive understanding.
- Computational approaches are vital for advancing the field and facilitating cellular fate transitions.
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