Stem cells articles within Nature

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• Letter | 14 January 2010

  JARID2 regulates binding of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 to target genes in ES cells

  Polycomb proteins have a key role in regulating the expression of genes essential for development, differentiation and maintenance of cell fates. Here, Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is shown to form a complex with JARID2, a Jumonji domain protein. JARID2 is required for the binding of Polycomb proteins to target genes in embryonic stem cells as well as for the proper differentiation of ES cells.

  • Diego Pasini
  • , Paul A. C. Cloos
  •  & Kristian Helin

• Article | 06 January 2010

  Opposing microRNA families regulate self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells

  The differentiation of an embryonic stem cell (ESC) requires both suppression of the self-renewal process and activation of the specific differentiation pathway. The let-7 family of microRNAs (miRNAs) are now shown to suppress the self-renewal program in cells that are normally unable to silence this program, whereas introduction of ESC cell cycle regulating miRNAs blocks the action of let-7. Thus, the interplay between these two groups of miRNAs dictates cell fate.

  • Collin Melton
  • , Robert L. Judson
  •  & Robert Blelloch