Key Protein Identified in Stem Cell Research
September 8th, 2009Researchers at the University of Cambridge have determined the role of a protein called Nanog. It’s been known for several years that Nanog is a key player “in the system that keeps stem cells in a constant, undifferentiated ‘pluripotent’ form.”
But in a recent study, researchers found that “Nanog acts like a conductor in charge of an orchestra of genes and proteins during the final performance. All must play at the right time in perfect harmony for the cell to ‘refresh’ into a pluripotent state. Without Nanog, a stem cell cannot maintain an immortal pluripotent state….The protein must be present during the final reprogramming phase when other key factors are already present, otherwise the cell becomes ‘stuck’ in a halfway state of development.”
This is yet another example of the importance of protein function – if the Nanog protein is not functioning properly, stem cells do not develop correctly. All the more reason to support protein function. You may be interested to read Eng3′s Activated Air blog: Stem Cell Transplants and Oxidative Stress
Source: 2009, August 24. Discovery reveals more about stem cells’ immortality. Wellcome Trust. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2009/WTX056296.htm