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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
08:01
A Two-Step Strategy that Combines Epigenetic Modification and Biomechanical Cues to Generate Mammalian Pluripotent Cells
Published on: August 29, 2020
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Totipotent-like reprogramming: Molecular machineries and chemical manipulations
Wanting Cai1, Lingci Huang1, Xinwei Wu1
1School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Cell Research
|February 24, 2025
Summary
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can become 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs), which are totipotent-like. Understanding the molecular regulators of 2CLCs and chemically induced totipotent cells aids regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) possess pluripotency, self-renewal, and differentiation capabilities.
- A subset of mouse ESCs, 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs), mimic the totipotent state of early embryos.
- 2CLCs are crucial models for studying totipotency establishment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review molecular regulations governing 2CLCs.
- To summarize chemical manipulations for inducing totipotent-like cells.
- To provide a foundation for understanding totipotency regulatory networks.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on 2CLCs and totipotent cell induction.
- Analysis of transcriptomic signatures of 2CLCs.
- Examination of regulatory factors (transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, RNA regulators).
Main Results:
- 2CLCs exhibit a transcriptomic profile similar to the 2-cell embryonic stage.
- Various regulators, including transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers, are involved in ESC reprogramming to 2CLCs.
- Chemical treatments can induce and maintain alternative totipotent-like cell types.
Conclusions:
- Molecular insights into 2CLCs are advancing the understanding of totipotency.
- Chemically induced totipotent cells offer potential for regenerative medicine.
- Further research into regulatory networks is essential for harnessing totipotency.
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