Dynamic Changes of the Epigenetic Landscape During Cellular Differentiation

Abstract

Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial to stabilize cell type-specific gene-expression programs. However, during differentiation, these programs need to be modified – a complex process that requires dynamic but tightly controlled rearrangements in the epigenetic landscape. During recent years, the major epigenetic machineries for gene activation and repression have been extensively characterized. Snapshots of the epigenetic landscape in pluripotent versus differentiated cells have further revealed how chromatin can change during cellular differentiation. Although transcription factors are the key drivers of developmental transitions, it became clear that their function is greatly influenced by the chromatin environment. Better insight into the tight interplay between transcription factor networks and the epigenetic landscape is therefore necessary to improve our understanding of cellular differentiation mechanisms. These systems can then be challenged and modified for the development of regenerative therapies.

KEYWORDS::

• differentiation
• DNA methylation
• histone modification
• lineage commitment
• lineage decision
• reprogramming
• stem cell

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Work in the G Schotta laboratory is funded by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SPP1356, SFB684 and SFB1064). This work was also supported by a CNPq-Brazil fellowship to GP de Almeida (process number 204724/2013-9). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Work in the G Schotta laboratory is funded by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SPP1356, SFB684 and SFB1064). This work was also supported by a CNPq-Brazil fellowship to GP de Almeida (process number 204724/2013-9). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.