Biomaterial Database

Chromatin in pluripotent embryonic stem cells and differentiation. 2006

Eran Meshorer, and Tom Misteli

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. meshoree@mail.nih.gov

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are unique in that they are pluripotent and have the ability to self-renew. The molecular mechanisms that underlie these two fundamental properties are largely unknown. We discuss how unique properties of chromatin in ES cells contribute to the maintenance of pluripotency and the determination of differentiation properties.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D002843	Chromatin	The material of CHROMOSOMES. It is a complex of DNA; HISTONES; and nonhistone proteins (CHROMOSOMAL PROTEINS, NON-HISTONE) found within the nucleus of a cell.	Chromatins
D006657	Histones	Small chromosomal proteins (approx 12-20 kD) possessing an open, unfolded structure and attached to the DNA in cell nuclei by ionic linkages. Classification into the various types (designated histone I, histone II, etc.) is based on the relative amounts of arginine and lysine in each.	Histone,Histone H1,Histone H1(s),Histone H2a,Histone H2b,Histone H3,Histone H3.3,Histone H4,Histone H5,Histone H7
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014158	Transcription, Genetic	The biosynthesis of RNA carried out on a template of DNA. The biosynthesis of DNA from an RNA template is called REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION.	Genetic Transcription
D039904	Pluripotent Stem Cells	Cells that can give rise to cells of the three different GERM LAYERS.	Stem Cells, Pluripotent,Pluripotent Stem Cell,Stem Cell, Pluripotent