Protein vital to stem cell specialisation found
Source: scenta Rate this item
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Stem
Cell Research have identified a protein fundamental to the
specialisation of embryonic stem cells.
Understanding how to direct embryonic stem cells to become particular
specialised cells is fundamental to creating lab-grown cells. These
can then be used to model disease, test new drugs and potentially
treat illness and injury.
The scientists showed that mouse embryonic stem cells need the
protein FGF4 to become ready to be converted into specialised cell
types, such as brain or muscle cells.
Embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to divide to produce
both copies of themselves and other, more specialised, cell types.
The process whereby embryonic stem cells commit to become specialised
cells nevertheless remains obscure. In particular, the precise role
of the protein Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 (FGF4) in this key decision
point has been uncertain until now.
Dr Tilo Kunath and Professor Austin Smith, together with
collaborators in Montreal, Canada, demonstrated that FGF4 is
essential to coax cells into a transitional stage, from which they
can go down any one of several paths.
Cells that are not afraid of commitment
"Depending on the signal presented to the mouse embryonic stem cells,
they can go back to the naïve state, and divide without limit, or
down one of several specialisation pathways, including routes towards
nerve cells or muscle cells," said Dr Kunath.
"We have coined a name for the cells in this stage – we call
them `commitment-
cells who do not receive a signal from FGF4, which we
call `commitment-
Human embryonic stem cells need FGF protein to grow in a dish. It is
not yet known whether this is required for maintenance of the human
stem cells, or for preparing the cells for specialisation, similarly
to FGF4.
If confirmed in human embryonic stem cells, these latest findings
provide further clues on how to manipulate the cells so as to direct
them down specific pathways and obtain specialised cells.
This research has been published in the latest edition of the journal
Development.
You've read it. Now review it.
Source: scenta
Date Published: August 02, 2007
http://www.scenta.
specialisation-
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
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http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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