Regulation of gene expression and cell state in embryonic stem cells

Abstract

Cell state is established and maintained through the combined action of transcription factors, chromatin regulators and signaling pathways, which all contribute to a transcriptional regulatory circuitry. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are capable of self-renewal and can give rise to nearly all differentiated cell-types, making them an ideal system in which to address the challenges of understanding gene expression and cell state. Valuable insights into the control of cell state have been revealed by recent studies of the ES cell transcriptional regulatory circuitry. Here I present work contributing to the understanding of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that control ES cell state, specifically signaling pathways and proteins that affect chromatin structure.