Epigenetic Reprogramming
Epigenetic Reprogramming - Related Videos
09:32
Generation of Myospheres From hESCs by Epigenetic Reprogramming
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Cited by 8 •
2014
Here, we describe a protocol based on epigenetic reprogramming of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) toward generating a homogeneous population of skeletal muscle progenitors that under permissive culture conditions form three-dimensional clusters of contractile myofibers (myospheres), which recapitulate biological features of human skeletal muscles.
10:21
An Overview of Epigenetics
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2023
Since the early days of genetics research, scientists have noted certain heritable phenotypic differences that are not due to differences in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Current evidence suggests that these “epigenetic” phenomena might be controlled by a number of mechanisms, including the modification of DNA cytosine bases with methyl groups, the addition of various chemical groups to histone proteins, and the recruitment of protein factors to specific DNA sites via interactions with...
01:46
Epigenetic Regulation
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2019
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer. In most mammals, females have two X chromosomes (XX) while males have an X and a Y chromosome (XY). The X chromosome contains significantly more genes than the Y chromosome. Therefore, to prevent an excess of X chromosome-linked gene expression in females, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly silenced during early development.
09:38
Direct Reprogramming of Mouse Fibroblasts into Melanocytes
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Cited by 2 •
2021
Here, we describe an optimized direct reprogramming system for melanocytes and a high-efficiency, concentrated virus packaging system that ensures smooth direct reprogramming.
09:10
Measuring Single-Cell Aging with an Imaging-based Biomarker of Chromatin and Epigenetic Aging
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2026
The protocol presents the imaging and computational workflow to extract and validate imaging-based chromatin and epigenetic age (ImAge).
FAQs
These regulatory layers work together to change how easily cellular machinery can reach gene-control regions. DNA methylation, chemical changes to histones, and shifts in chromatin organization can therefore alter whether developmental genes are accessible for activation or remain silenced. Their coordinated action allows broad changes in gene regulation while preserving the underlying DNA sequence.
Regulatory-region access helps determine which developmental genes a cell can activate. When reprogramming changes chromatin organization or associated chemical marks, previously restricted genes may become available, while other genes can be silenced. This changing pattern of gene regulation supports the progression from an early embryonic state toward distinct cell identities during development.
A differentiated cell carries gene-regulation patterns associated with its established identity. Reprogramming can reset those patterns, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin organization, so genes linked to a pluripotent state can become regulated differently. This principle provides the developmental basis for induced pluripotent stem cell research without requiring a change to the DNA sequence itself.
Researchers examine how changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin organization correspond with gene activation or silencing. They also relate these regulatory changes to shifts in cell identity during development. This approach connects molecular patterns with developmental outcomes, helping explain how cells make fate decisions and how abnormal regulation may contribute to developmental disorders.
During embryonic development, coordinated regulatory resets help cells use different subsets of developmental genes. Differences in gene accessibility and silencing create distinct patterns of gene regulation among developing cells, supporting separate identities. Studying these changes helps developmental biologists connect early regulatory events with the emergence of specialized cell types.
Its importance comes from showing how a differentiated cell can be returned to a pluripotent state through altered gene regulation rather than altered DNA sequence. Induced pluripotent stem cell research uses this developmental principle to investigate cell identity and developmental potential. The same knowledge informs prospects for regenerative medicine by clarifying how cell states might be reset.