A multinational team of scientists led by
Professor Benjamin Blencowe of the University of Toronto has identified
proteins that play a key role in the control of pluripotency, which may mean a
possible breakthrough in the production of so-called induced pluripotent stem
cells.
Induced pluripotent stem cells are of great value for medical research because they can flexibly develop into many different types of cells. However, producing these cells is challenging because the proteins that control their production are largely unknown
The team discovered these proteins using a tiling code developed by Professor Blencowe several years ago.
"The mechanisms that control embryonic stem cell pluripotency have been a mystery for some time," explains Dr. Brendan Frey, also from the University of Toronto, who co-authored the study published in the journal Nature.
"However, Professor Blencowe and his team found that the proteins identified by our splicing code can activate or reduce the pluripotency of stem cells."
"Suppose you've tasted a lot of delicacies, but you have no idea what it takes to make them. Then, one day, you will find that all gourmet food cooks will use something called a "measuring cup". Now you know important information about how to prepare dishes, and you know the "control knobs" that can be turned to make different dishes, just as adjusting the amount of butter and flour produces different kinds of pastries.
Dr Frey said: "Although the complete formula for producing induced pluripotent stem cells may not yet be available, it looks more likely at first."
Induced pluripotent stem cells are of great value for medical research because they can flexibly develop into many different types of cells. However, producing these cells is challenging because the proteins that control their production are largely unknown
The team discovered these proteins using a tiling code developed by Professor Blencowe several years ago.
"The mechanisms that control embryonic stem cell pluripotency have been a mystery for some time," explains Dr. Brendan Frey, also from the University of Toronto, who co-authored the study published in the journal Nature.
"However, Professor Blencowe and his team found that the proteins identified by our splicing code can activate or reduce the pluripotency of stem cells."
"Suppose you've tasted a lot of delicacies, but you have no idea what it takes to make them. Then, one day, you will find that all gourmet food cooks will use something called a "measuring cup". Now you know important information about how to prepare dishes, and you know the "control knobs" that can be turned to make different dishes, just as adjusting the amount of butter and flour produces different kinds of pastries.
Dr Frey said: "Although the complete formula for producing induced pluripotent stem cells may not yet be available, it looks more likely at first."
Collected by Creative BioMart.
