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New epigenetic reprogramming factors: functional testing in ES and iPS cells and development of small molecule modulators

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L255
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Wolf Reik
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	12,566
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/03/2010
End date	28/02/2013
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Stem cells and regenerative medicine hold great promise for human health and healthy ageing. A number of exciting technologies have recently been developed by which the derivation of embryonic stem (ES) cells from adult cell types is now possible. This includes the transfer of reprogramming factors into adult cells, resulting in the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Inducing 'pluripotency' is of direct relevance to regenerative medicine as it enables specific cell populations and tissues to be generated from/for patients. However, this technology is inefficient and a particular bottleneck appears to be the reprogramming of the epigenome. Epigenetics or the epigenome refers to all the modifications to DNA and chromatin that are important for the function of the genome in the context of development and in the adult organism in different organs and tissues. Importantly, in germ cells (that develop into eggs or sperm) and early embryos, the epigenome is reprogrammed on a genome-wide scale, so that development of a new organism and new stem cells is possible. Work in our laboratory and others has revealed several features of this genome-wide epigenetic reprogramming. In collaboration with the company CellCentric, we have begun to set up a number of systematic screens for the isolation of epigenetic reprogramming factors. The current programme of work with CellCentric aims to assess the function of these new reprogramming factors in germ cells and early embryos, ES cells, and in the generation of iPS cells. CellCentric will in particular work on the isolation of small molecules that can alter the function of our reprogramming factors, which will then be tested in ES and iPS cells. The combined programme of work will shed new light on the fundamental process of epigenetic reprogramming, and provide new tools for the manipulation of stem cells and the translation into approaches to regenerative medicine and healthy ageing.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Pharmaceuticals, Stem Cells
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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