The RNA-methyltransferase Misu (NSun2) poises epidermal stem cells to differentiate.

Homeostasis of most adult tissues is maintained by balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, but whether post-transcriptional mechanisms can regulate this process is unknown. Here, we identify that an RNA methyltransferase (Misu/Nsun2) is required to balance stem cell self-renewal and di...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sandra Blanco, Agata Kurowski, Jennifer Nichols, Fiona M Watt, Salvador Aznar Benitah, Michaela Frye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-12-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1002403&type=printable
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Summary:Homeostasis of most adult tissues is maintained by balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, but whether post-transcriptional mechanisms can regulate this process is unknown. Here, we identify that an RNA methyltransferase (Misu/Nsun2) is required to balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in skin. In the epidermis, this methyltransferase is found in a defined sub-population of hair follicle stem cells poised to undergo lineage commitment, and its depletion results in enhanced quiescence and aberrant stem cell differentiation. Our results reveal that post-transcriptional RNA methylation can play a previously unappreciated role in controlling stem cell fate.
ISSN:1553-7390
1553-7404