Open AccessThe effect of microRNAs on the regulatory network of pluripotency in embryonic stem cells
Author(s) -
Yinshan Bai,
Li Li,
Hengxi Wei,
Cui Zhu,
Shouquan Zhang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
yichuan
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0253-9772
DOI - 10.3724/sp.j.1005.2013.01153
Subject(s) - embryonic stem cell , microrna , microbiology and biotechnology , induced pluripotent stem cell , biology , stem cell , rex1 , cell potency , regulation of gene expression , gene regulatory network , epigenetics , cellular differentiation , transcription factor , genetics , gene expression , gene
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells characterized by their ability to self-renew and their pluripotency to differentiate into all cell types. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small non-coding RNA molecule which can regulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression, and may also play significant roles in regulating proliferation and differentiation of ESCs. The maintenance of pluripotency in ESCs may involve a regulatory network of many factors and pathways regulated by miRNA, which includes ESCs transcription factors, cell cycle regulation, epigenetic modifications as well as intracelluar signal transduction. This review mainly elaborates the biogenesis of miRNA, the miRNA families regulating the pluripotency of ESCs, and the effect of miRNA on the regulatory network of pluripotency in ESCs.