2022 Spring Seminar Series Presents
Dr. Christopher Phiel
Associate Professor
Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver
WHEN: April 15, 2022, at Noon
WHERE: Seminar will be presented via Zoom
Please email jacki.craig@ucdenver.edu for the Zoom Link. Requests can be submitted any time before the Seminar but not after 11:00am the day of the seminar.
Probing the Molecular Mechanisms of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency
Embryonic stem cells have the ability to give rise to every type of cell in an adult organism – a state called pluripotency - making these cells very unique. Despite the work of many labs over the past few decades, we are still understanding the molecular mechanisms that promote pluripotency. My lab has approached this problem through understanding the importance of proteins called Gsk-3⍺/β. During the course of these studies, we have established a previously unknown connection between Gsk-3 and RNA methylation, which is also important for pluripotency. Continuing this work led us to integrate how small molecules such as Vitamin C fit into the Gsk-3/RNA methylation/pluripotency story. Finally, we have recently discovered a single novel protein that is able to promote embryonic stem cell pluripotency. I will discuss all of these data and assemble the molecules into a larger picture of stem cell pluripotency.
Everyone is welcome to join the seminar, please email jacki.craig@ucdenver.edu to receive the Zoom link. Requests can be submitted any time before the seminar but not after 10:00am the day of the seminar.