When stem cells divide, they self-renew, that is, they make a copy of themselves - or mature into
Every time a cell divides, it must create an exact copy of its genome—not just the DNA sequence, but also how the DNA and proteins are packaged into chromatin.
According to the authors of the new work, in order for cells to divide identically, all information is transferred to a new copy of the genome. This is done by a protein complex - CAF-1.
The team used immature blood cells,which can either self-renew or turn into neutrophils - non-dividing cells that represent our body's first line of defense against pathogens.
The researchers found that CAF-1 is not necessarynot only to maintain the self-renewal of these immature blood cells, but also to maintain their identity. Even a moderate decrease in CAF-1 levels caused cells to forget their identity and move to the stage of mixed origin.
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