Biology Seminar Series - October 25, 2024

Title: Determinants of Human Trophoblast Lineage Development and Cell Fate Conversion

 

Abstract: Cells of the trophoblast lineage are essential for implantation and placentation. While defects in trophoblast lineage development can lead to early pregnancy failure or pregnancy-related disorders, the key regulators involved in normal and abnormal human trophoblast lineage differentiation have not been well characterized. Using human trophoblast stem cells as our model and employing a super-enhancer guided mapping approach, we identified several previously unknown key transcription factors (TFs) responsible for the self-renewal of human trophoblast stem cells and their differentiation into more specialized cell types. Although master TFs can often change cell fate, the fate conversion potential and mechanisms of such TFs remain elusive. To address this, we aimed to identify individual TFs with fate conversion potential towards specific lineages at a single-cell level and to understand their underlying mechanisms.