Monday, April 13, 2015

Scientists Pinpoint Molecule That Controls Stem Cell Plasticity by Boosting Gene Expression

A team of researchers from the Rockefeller University has identified a protein, Sox9, which can control stem cell plasticity by boosting gene expression in the hair follicles. Sox9 makes the genes needed by stems cell to become active and later recruit other proteins to give the genes a boost. Also, a less common, yet more powerful version, the super-enhancer was identified by scientists. Super-enhancers contain a large number of transcription factors, histones, DNA packaging proteins, and epigenetic marks. Scientists found 377 super-enhancers in the hair follicle stem cells and many of them were bound by five transcription factors, usually to Sox9.

During the research, scientists took an epicenter from the super-enhancer and linked it to a gene, which would glow green when transcription factors were present. They found that in living mice, all of the hair follicle stem cells glowed green, but did not when the cells were removed from the follicle and placed in culture. Also, scientists found that some of the stem cells glowed green during a wound-repair when culture. The scientists concluded that Sox9 was the only transcription factor expressed in culture and living tissue and it is needed to prevent the death of the stem cells.

The study shows how stem cells response to different environments (culture or repairing wounds) as it maintains plasticity. Researchers studying Sox9 can use it to further the study of male pattern baldness. It could also aid in hair growth methods people who are balding. 

Original link: http://www.newswise.com/articles/scientists-pinpoint-molecule-that-controls-stem-cell-plasticity-by-boosting-gene-expression2
Related Link: http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-642-16483-5_5492

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