Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025
10:56
Polysome Fractionation and Analysis of Mammalian Translatomes on a Genome-wide Scale
Published on: May 17, 2014
68.9K
mRNA Translation Is Dynamically Regulated to Instruct Stem Cell Fate
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
|April 18, 2022
Summary
Stem cells use mRNA translation control to manage gene expression, impacting quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation. Understanding translational regulation is key to stem cell fate decisions.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
Background:
- Stem cells maintain tissue homeostasis by replacing cells.
- Cellular identity is defined by gene expression and metabolic activity.
- Transcription factors and epigenetics traditionally explain gene expression control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of post-transcriptional mechanisms, specifically mRNA translation, in stem cell biology.
- To highlight how translational control influences stem cell fate decisions.
- To discuss key regulatory mechanisms impacting global translation rates.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on translational regulation in stem cells.
- Focus on mechanisms like mTOR signaling, eIF2ɑ phosphorylation, and ribosome biogenesis.
- Analysis of how these mechanisms affect stem cell responses to environmental cues.
Main Results:
- Translational regulation influences stem cell quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation.
- Mechanisms controlling global translation allow rapid gene expression changes.
- mTOR signaling, eIF2ɑ phosphorylation, and ribosome biogenesis are critical regulators.
Conclusions:
- Post-transcriptional control via mRNA translation is a crucial layer in stem cell regulation.
- Understanding translational mechanisms is essential for comprehending stem cell fate.
- This regulatory layer allows stem cells to adapt to changing physiological needs.
Keywords:
differentiationeIF2 kinasemTORprotein synthesisribosome biogenesisself-renewalstem celltranslationMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
1.1K
The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
1.1K
01:29Translational Regulation
134
Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
134
02:22Regulated mRNA Transport
2.9K
2.9K
02:24Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
23.6K
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
23.6K
01:53RNA Stability
34.0K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
34.0K
01:22MicroRNAs
21.9K
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...
21.9K