Subj : Learning from endangered zebra stem cell
To   : All
From : ScienceDaily
Date : Mon Apr 25 2022 22:30:44

 Learning from endangered zebra stem cells 
 Examination of endangered species' stem cells unveils ancient genetic
links between mammals 

  Date:
      April 25, 2022
  Source:
      Kyoto University
  Summary:
      Scientists have produced stem cells from the endangered Gre'vy's
      zebra using human reprogramming factors. Further comprehensive
      gene analyses identified key genes that are also found in human
      and mouse cells, providing insight into evolutionary conservation
      between mammals.



FULL STORY
==========================================================================
Scientists from Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material
Sciences (iCeMS) and Wildlife Research Centre have produced stem
cells from the endangered Gre'vy's zebra using human reprogramming
factors. Further comprehensive gene analyses identified key genes that are
also found in human and mouse cells, providing insight into evolutionary
conservation between mammals. The findings were published in the journal
Stem Cells and Development.


==========================================================================
Mammalian stem cells have drawn interest from researchers for their
ability to change into multiple cell types, such as skin, muscle, egg
and sperm.

Pluripotent stem cells have the capacity for unlimited self-renewal
and differentiation into any type of cell. Despite their potential to
help researchers understand the genome, few studies have looked into
pluripotent stem cells from endangered species. Ken-ichiro Kamei from
iCeMS teamed up with Miho Murayama and Yoshinori Endo of the Wildlife
Research Center to produce and analyse induced pluripotent stem cells
(iPSCs) from Gre'vy's zebras, which is on the Red List of Threatened
Species.

The research group generated iPSCs by converting Gre'vy's zebra skin
cells using human reprogramming factors that tell the differentiated
cells to revert back to their stem cell state. The iPSCs were then
grown using the same methods as human iPSCs and demonstrated the
potential to differentiate into different cell types. The zebra iPSCs
exhibited characteristics similar to other mammalian iPSCs, such as
their appearance, doubling rate and method of forming colonies. These
similarities suggest that Gre'vy's zebra iPSCs are good candidates to
scale up for future research using similar methods as human iPSCs.

The researchers then performed RNA sequencing analyses to better
understand and characterize the cells. By examining the genes that were
turned on in the zebra iPSCs, the scientists were able to identify key
genes, such as those associated with pluripotency and cell adhesion,
that are also present in human and mouse stem cells, showing remarkable
genetic conservation between these mammalian species.

The successful production of the zebra iPSCs could provide resources for
functional research and the artificial reproduction of the endangered
species.

In the future, the researchers would like to build on their previous
work and compare the zebra iPSCs with other species to help advance
the understanding of the differences and similarities between mammalian
pluripotent stem cells. "We would like to explore how to differentiate
Gre'vy's zebra iPSCs into other cells. This could provide new options
for saving this species," says Kamei.


==========================================================================
Story Source: Materials provided by Kyoto_University. Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.


==========================================================================
Related Multimedia:
    *
    Researchers_have_produced_iPS_cells_from_the_endangered_Gre'vy's_zebra
      using_human_reprogramming_factors
==========================================================================
Journal Reference:
   1. Yoshinori Endo, Ken-ichiro Kamei, Kouichi Hasegawa, Keisuke Okita,
      Hideyuki Ito, Shiho Terada, Miho Inoue-Murayama. Generation and
      Gene Expression Profiles of Grevy's Zebra Induced Pluripotent Stem
      Cells. Stem Cells and Development, 2022; DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0253
==========================================================================

Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220425104900.htm

--- up 8 weeks, 10 hours, 51 minutes
 * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

.