Epigenetic regulation of stem cell differentiation

Stem cells undergo extensive self-renewal and have the capacity to differentiate along Multiple cell lineages. Progression from stem cells into differentiated progeny requires long-lasting changes in gene expression. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA-mediated regulatory events, are essential to controlling the heritable cellular memory of gene expression during development. Recent studies on cell fate specification of embryonic and adult stein cells/progenitors have highlighted a general and critical role for dynamic epigenetic regulation in stern cell self-renewal and differentiation.