Multicellular organisms comprise a variety of cell types that have the same genotype but distinct phenotypes. This diversity is possible because of the establishment of a specific epigenetic landscape that stabilizes gene expression profiles that are exclusive for a particular cell type. | Turkish Journal of Biology Turk J Biol (2016) 40: 1018-1032 © TÜBİTAK doi: Review Article Epigenetics: the guardian of pluripotency and differentiation 1,2 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2, Marta GŁADYCH , Aleksandra NIJAK , Paula LOTA , Urszula OLEKSIEWICZ * Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland 2 Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland 3 University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland 1 Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: Multicellular organisms comprise a variety of cell types that have the same genotype but distinct phenotypes. This diversity is possible because of the establishment of a specific epigenetic landscape that stabilizes gene expression profiles that are exclusive for a particular cell type. Accumulating data indicate that the maintenance, loss, and reacquisition of pluripotency are dynamically regulated by epigenetic alterations evoked by a subset of cellular factors. A better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in stem cell biology and differentiation will improve our ability to use these cells in the clinical context. Here we review current insights into the epigenetic mechanisms implicated in embryonic development and the induction of pluripotency. Key words: Epigenetics, chromatin modifications, DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, pluripotent stem cells, differentiation, reprogramming 1. Introduction Organisms at the multicellular level are composed of various cell types. Although they harbor similar genomes, the cells differ dramatically in terms of their morphology, physiology, and functions. During development, initially totipotent cells proliferate intensively, acquire more specialized phenotypes, and progressively lose their differentiation capacity. These changes are .
