Controlling Destiny through Chemistry: Small-Molecule Regulators of Cell Fate

Controlling cell fate is essential for embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and the prevention of human disease. With each cell in the human body sharing a common genome, achieving the appropriate spectrum of stem cells and their differentiated lineages requires the selective activation of de...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ACS chemical biology 2010-01, Vol.5 (1), p.15-34
Main Authors: Firestone, Ari J, Chen, James K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cell Differentiation - drug effects
Humans
Regenerative Medicine
Reviews
Small Molecule Libraries
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Summary:Controlling cell fate is essential for embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and the prevention of human disease. With each cell in the human body sharing a common genome, achieving the appropriate spectrum of stem cells and their differentiated lineages requires the selective activation of developmental signaling pathways, the expression of specific target genes, and the maintenance of these cellular states through epigenetic mechanisms. Small molecules that target these regulatory processes are therefore valuable tools for probing and manipulating the molecular mechanisms by which stem cells self-renew, differentiate, and arise from somatic cell reprogramming. Pharmacological modulators of cell fate could also help remediate human diseases caused by dysregulated cell proliferation or differentiation, heralding a new era in molecular therapeutics.
ISSN:1554-8929
1554-8937
DOI:10.1021/cb900249y