Title
Understanding pluripotency: cell cycle, DNA replication and genome maintenance
Speaker
Tomomi Tsubouchi, PhD
National Institute for Basic Biology, SOKENDAI
Abstract
Mammalian pluripotent stem (e.g., ES) cells arise only transiently during development, and disappear as they differentiate. ES cells are unique in various aspects but accumulating evidence suggest that even fundamental cell cycle regulation operate differently in ES cells.
One of the unique features in ES cells is that DNA replication complex migrates slower compared to the differentiated counterpart. We sought to understand the underlying cause of this slowness and its link to pluripotency and genome maintenance control. I will share our unpublished results during the seminar.
We are also trying to understand why pluripotency appears to be “locked in” in a fully developed animal. For this we have developed a tool to track de-differentiation process towards pluripotency, using the cell-fusion system. I would like to briefly share our results and discuss future perspectives.
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