| Ronald P. Hart, Ph.D., Professor D251 Nelson Labs 604 Allison Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-6999 VOICE: (732) 445-1783 FAX: (732) 445-2063 rhart@rci.rutgers.edu Visit the Hart Lab |
Research Summary
New microRNAs in human stem cells
Differentiating human embryonic stem cells express previously-undiscovered microRNAs, according to a recent article in PLoSOne from Prof. Ron Hart’s lab.
MicroRNA Regulation in Neural Stem Cells
The recently-described class of genes encoding microRNAs provides a new level of regulatory control over gene expression. MicroRNAs, short, non-coding RNAs found in the RISC complex, are believed to inhibit translation or to destabilize target mRNAs. Using deep-sequencing technologies we recently identified 146 new human microRNAs expressed early in stem cell development. We predict that these largely human- or primate-specific microRNAs will function to stabilize differentiation pathways during early embryonic development and that they may be exploited to help program stem cells towards a desired cell type for therapeutic transplant. Our long term goal is to program stem cells to be effective therapies for repair or regeneration of injured spinal cord.