Cell cycle and cell cycle regulators in the process of development, pluripotency, differentiation, and reprogramming

Abstract

The core cell cycle machinery and its associated signaling pathways play critical roles in regulation of stem cell properties. Cell cycle length and rate is a determining factor for stem cells to maintain pluripotency or undergo differentiation. Manipulating the cell cycle has functional consequences for tissue differentiation as well as somatic cell reprogramming. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that cell cycle regulators may control pluripotency and differentiation by direct interaction with the pluripotency network and other essential signal pathways without altering the cell cycle per se. In this chapter, we summarize the current understanding of the role of the cell cycle and cell cycle regulators in the process of development, pluripotency, differentiation, and reprogramming.