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MYC as a Multifaceted Regulator of Pluripotency and Reprogramming

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Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 2

Part of the book series: Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells ((STEM,volume 2))

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Abstract

Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to generate cellular descendants of the three primary germ layers. For this reason, they are a viable resource in the generation of specialized cells for tissue regeneration and drug development. In the embryo and in vitro culture, pluripotent cells express specific factors that maintain the pluripotent state. Such factors promote the expression of other pluripotency genes to maintain self-renewal and impede differentiation. The proto-oncogene Myc is a central regulator that holds multiple roles in the control of pluripotency. Key functions include maintenance of the pluripotent cell cycle, metabolic regulation and suppression of differentiation pathways. Myc target genes number in the thousands, so it is likely that novel aspects of Myc function in pluripotent stem cell biology remain to be fully elucidated. This chapter deals with our current understanding of Myc’s contribution to pluripotency, its involvement in reprogramming and its contribution to cancer stem cell biology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Keriayn N. Smith & Stephen Dalton

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  1. Keriayn N. Smith
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  2. Stephen Dalton
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Correspondence to Stephen Dalton .

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  1. , Kean University, Room 213, Library building, Morris Avenue 1000, Union, 07083, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Smith, K.N., Dalton, S. (2012). MYC as a Multifaceted Regulator of Pluripotency and Reprogramming. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 2. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2016-9_14

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