File:Stem cell nanog model.png

Two-level process for the induction of differentiation

Pluripotent ES cells can reversibly change between the Nanog-low and Nanog-high subpopulation, controlled by either of the two proposed regulatory mechanisms (indicated on the left side, vertical dimension).

However, in the horizontal dimension the Nanog-low cells are more prone to differentiation inducing signals compared to the Nanog-high cells.

As a consequence, some of the Nanog-low cells lose the ability to change back into the Nanog-high state by further down-regulation of Nanog and other pluripotency genes (horizontal dimension).

In this visualisation the spatial dimensions correspond to the two-level mechanism: gate-keeping facilitated by variable Nanog concentrations – vertical dimension, induction of differentiation – horizontal dimension.

Original File name: Figure 7. Journal.pone.0011238.g007.png

Reference

<pubmed>20574542</pubmed>| PLoS One

Citation: Glauche I, Herberg M, Roeder I (2010) Nanog Variability and Pluripotency Regulation of Embryonic Stem Cells - Insights from a Mathematical Model Analysis. PLoS ONE 5(6): e11238. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011238

Editor: Diego Di Bernardo, Fondazione Telethon, Italy

Received: February 23, 2010; Accepted: May 17, 2010; Published: June 21, 2010

Copyright: © 2010 Glauche et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.