◈ 세 미 나◈

- 제목 : Cell reprogramming: Epigenetics, Regeneration, &beyond

- 연사 : Jae-Young Yun, PhD

        Center for Genome Engineering, Institute for Basic Science

        Seoul National University

- 초청 : ABC (Advanced Biomass R&D Center)

- 일시 : 2014. 11. 5 (수)  AM 11:00

- 장소 : 응용공학동 First Seminar Room # 1101

▣ Abstract

 Here I would like to present two interesting cell reprogramming processes: One is zebrafish heart regeneration; and the other is plant vernalization response. Both reprogramming processes are regulated by epigenetic regulators, such as miRNAs and histone methyltransferases, which play a role in conferring a great deal of developmental plasticity.

 Heart failure remains one of the leading causes of death in the developed world. Whereas the mammalian heart is endowed with certain regenerative potential, it does not suffice for functional heart repair upon injury. Interestingly, non-mammalian vertebrates such as the zebrafish can regenerate the heart by inducing cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation, proliferation and further redifferentiation upon injury. This opens the possibility to use regenerative animal models for the identification of conserved mechanisms potentially allowing for the reprogramming of mammalian cells. Here I present miR-99/100 downregulation as a key factor driving cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation upon zebrafish heart amputation. Experimental activation of this fundamental switch may establish the basis towards developing new and efficient methodologies for the reprogramming of mammalian cardiomyocytes into proliferative regenerative states in situ, a process termed regenerative reprogramming.

 The winter-annual habit of Arabidopsis thaliana requires vernalization to allow flowering in spring. The plants which underwent winter prior establish epigenetic memory of winter. The hallmark of this vernalization response is the stable repression of FLC, a potent flowering repressor. Here I present that increase/decrease in specific histone modifications, mediated by Arabidopsis equivalents of Trithorax and Polycomb group proteins, allow and enforce vernalization-dependent cellular reprogramming.

*Contact: Shin, Sung-Eun (x3964, shiningsilver87@kaist.ac.kr)