Cell fate decisions, including events that occur naturally (e.g., development/embryogenesis, differentiation, regeneration, homeostasis) and experimentally (e.g., reprogramming of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, transdifferentiation), are typically mediated by transcription factors in concert with epigenetic modifications. These crucial regulators direct gene expression to establish cell-type specific transcriptional profiles. Mechanistically, a wide range of chromatin-related processes are involved (DNA and histone modifications, histone variants, 3-dimensional chromatin configuration, RNA processing and many more). The interplay among all of these layers of epigenetic regulation finally determines the transcriptional output of the conversion process, thus instructing the final cell fate.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and state of the art overview of different mechanisms that regulate chromatin and therefore the transcriptional status of the cells during the processes of development, differentiation, transdifferentiation and iPS cell reprogramming.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review and Mini-Review articles that cover recent and current research on the topic of mechanisms regulating chromatin in cell fate decisions. These mechanisms cover, but are not limited to the following topics:
• Chromatin regulation during organ development and organoid culture.
• DNA (hydroxy)methylation dynamics during early embryo development and iPS cell reprogramming.
• 3-D chromatin regulation during iPS cell reprogramming and pluripotency states.
• Regulatory RNAs in pluripotency establishment and maintenance.
• Role of genomic imprinting in pluripotency maintenance.
• Chromatin dynamics during normal and malignant hematopoietic cell fate decisions.
• Chromatin regulation during neural cell fate specification.
• Metabolism, chromatin and cell fate decisions.
Cell fate decisions, including events that occur naturally (e.g., development/embryogenesis, differentiation, regeneration, homeostasis) and experimentally (e.g., reprogramming of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, transdifferentiation), are typically mediated by transcription factors in concert with epigenetic modifications. These crucial regulators direct gene expression to establish cell-type specific transcriptional profiles. Mechanistically, a wide range of chromatin-related processes are involved (DNA and histone modifications, histone variants, 3-dimensional chromatin configuration, RNA processing and many more). The interplay among all of these layers of epigenetic regulation finally determines the transcriptional output of the conversion process, thus instructing the final cell fate.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and state of the art overview of different mechanisms that regulate chromatin and therefore the transcriptional status of the cells during the processes of development, differentiation, transdifferentiation and iPS cell reprogramming.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review and Mini-Review articles that cover recent and current research on the topic of mechanisms regulating chromatin in cell fate decisions. These mechanisms cover, but are not limited to the following topics:
• Chromatin regulation during organ development and organoid culture.
• DNA (hydroxy)methylation dynamics during early embryo development and iPS cell reprogramming.
• 3-D chromatin regulation during iPS cell reprogramming and pluripotency states.
• Regulatory RNAs in pluripotency establishment and maintenance.
• Role of genomic imprinting in pluripotency maintenance.
• Chromatin dynamics during normal and malignant hematopoietic cell fate decisions.
• Chromatin regulation during neural cell fate specification.
• Metabolism, chromatin and cell fate decisions.
