NIA Uses Genomatix in Stem Cell Research, Suggests Novel Transcription Factors for Stemness

Genomatix Software with businesses in Munich, Germany and Ann Arbor, Michigan has released that the group of Kenneth R. Boheler at the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD published some remarkable work on embryonic stem (ES) cells.

In their work they first identified and validated ES cell predominant transcripts by SAGE and qRT-PCR methods. Then they employed extensive DNA promoter analysis based on the integrated Genomatix system in order to identify conserved cis-elements and putative trans-regulators. Framework analysis for promoter organization, as introduced by Genomatix, increased likeliness for functional significance of the candidate transcription factors.

Predictions were experimentally verified by Chromosomal Immunoprecipitation assays.

The study led to the novel identification of two transcription factors, B-Myb and Maz which are implicated either in the maintenance of the undifferentiated stem cell state or in early steps of differentiation.