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Developmental, Stem Cell & Regenerative biology > Lecture 4 - Differentiation > Flashcards

Lecture 4 - Differentiation Flashcards

1
Q

What is the name given to the state of a cell once it’s final fate has been determined?

A

Terminally differentiated state

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2
Q

What causes cells to change their expression profile?

A

Signals & other cues in the environment (regulated by signals)

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3
Q

Describe the stepwise restriction in potency

A

Totipotent
Pluripotent
Multipotent
Bipotent
Unipotent

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4
Q

Describe totipotency

A

Can become any cell in body (embryonic stem cell)

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5
Q

Describe pluripotency

A

Can make most cell types (term layer after gastrulation)

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6
Q

Describe multipotency

A

Can make all cells within a tissue

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7
Q

Describe bipotency

A

2 cell types

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8
Q

Describe unipotency

A

1 cell type - may produce stem cells through

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9
Q

What changes in different stages of differentiation?

A

The expression of regulatory transcription factors changes

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10
Q

What do researchers use to track different stages of differentiation?

A

Gene (markers)

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11
Q

What is the term given to a differences in gene expression?

A

Differential gene expression

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12
Q

What are other names for a binding site?

A
  • cis acting element
  • regulatory element
  • enhancer
  • silencer
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13
Q

Why is binding between a transcription factor and a binding site in the DNA only a temporary event?

A

Hydrogen bonds are weak

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14
Q

What is an enhancer?

A

Binding site for transcriptional activators (and repressors)

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15
Q

What is a silencer?

A

Binding site for transcriptional repressor

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16
Q

What are genetic switches?

A

Regulatory transcription factors modulate the level of expression of many genes - can activate some genes and inhibit others - have huge effect on cell fate.
- (basically inputs that alter gene expression)

17
Q

What are examples of genetic switches?

A
  • strongly activating assembly
  • strongly inhibiting protein
  • spacer DNA
  • weak activating protein assembly
18
Q

What does the genetic switches respond to?

A

Intrinsic & extrinsic regulation

19
Q

What regulates gene activity on a larger scale?

A

Feedback loops - activation of one gene leads to multiple genes being activated

20
Q

What does transcription factor activity depend on?

A
  • extrinsic signals
  • intrinsic signals
  • regulatory binding sites
  • accessibility of chromatin
21
Q

What 4 muscle-specific proteins are required for a somite to turn into a terminally differentiated muscle?

A
  • muscle-specific actin
  • myosin II
  • tropomyosin
  • muscle-specific enzymes (e.g. creatine phosphate kinase)
22
Q

What is MyoD?

A

transcriptional factor expressed only in muscle precursors & muscle cells. It controls expressions of genes for muscle differentiation and maintains its own expression.

23
Q

Fibroblasts were transfected with MyoD gene. The fibroblasts now differentiated into muscle. What does this suggest?

A

MyoD gene is sufficient to direct muscle cell fate in fibroblasts.

24
Q

Mice without MyoD develop with normal skeletal muscle. What does this suggest?

A

MyoD is NOT required for muscle cell differentiation

25
Q

What is another gene that acts redundantly with MyoD?

A

Myf5

26
Q

What occurs if a mice lacks both MyoD & Myf5?

A

they lack all skeletal muscle, so both genes do have an important role in muscle differentiation.

27
Q

Is differentiation a single-step process?

A

No - differentiation is a multiple-step process that involves many external inputs.

28
Q

Where does the muscle come from in the embryo?

A

The somites

29
Q

What are muscle cells renewed by in adult cells?

A

Satellite stem cells renew muscle cells that line muscle fibres

30
Q

Describe the potency of haemopoetic stem cells

A

Multipotent (can also create itself)

31
Q

Where are blood cells made in the mammalian embryo?

A

In the yolk sac & then liver

32
Q

Where are blood cells made in adults?

A

Bone marrow

Developmental, Stem Cell & Regenerative biology (15 decks)

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