Peter Rugg-Gunn

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Epigenetic Regulation of Development and Stem Cell Differentiation

During early mammalian development, the embryo undergoes an important transition where cells become specialised and are orientated to be the building blocks of the future body. How this process is controlled remains understood poorly but it is important to study because it will provide insight in to how distinct cell types are formed in the embryo. Scientists are trying to mimic these events in order to control specialisation of stem cells. By better understanding how this process occurs in the embryo, we may uncover new ways to turn stem cells into useful cell types, such as heart and liver, that we can use for cell-replacement therapies.

Our research group has chosen to study a set of proteins called Polycomb, which regulate what genes are turned on and off, because we know that they have an essential role during this transition in mouse development. By studying mouse embryos at a very early stage in development, together with stem cells in culture, we will uncover how Polycomb proteins are involved in this process and also what are the signals that control Polycomb proteins themselves. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of how cell specialisation occurs may lead to improved control over stem cells (more...).