Inhibition of proteasome activity facilitates definitive endodermal specification of pluripotent stem cells by influencing YAP signalling.

Aims: The knowledge of the molecular players that regulate the generation of endoderm cells is imperative to obtain homogenous population of pancreatic β-cells from stem cells. The Ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) has been envisaged as a crucial intracellular protein degradation system, but its role in the generation of β-cells remains elusive. Hence, it would be appropriate to unravel the potential role of UPS in endoderm specification and utilize the understanding to generate β-cells from pluripotent stem cells.

Degradation meets development: Implications in β-cell development and diabetes.

Pancreatic development is orchestrated by timely synthesis and degradation of stage-specific transcription factors (TFs). The transition from one stage to another stage is dependent on the precise expression of the developmentally relevant TFs. Persistent expression of particular TF would impede the exit from the progenitor stage to the matured cell type.

Advancement in Understanding the Concept of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Pancreatic β-Cells: Implication in Diabetes.

Distinct molecular processes are engaged during histogenesis, and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is one of the key evolutionarily conserved processes that facilitates organ development. Molecular pathways governing EMT are embedded within developmental programs and operate in cells of different tissues. Among varied cell types, EMT in pancreatic β-cells is of greater interest as the existence of EMT in these cells is highly debated.