Post-translational regulation of pancreas proendocrine factors
In the pancreas, proendocrine factors (NGN3, PDX1) expression is necessary to allow the activation of genes that further determine an endocrine fate from a progenitor state giving rise, among other types, to insulin producing cells. While its role is well established, little is known about the post-translational regulation of the proendocrine factors.
Previous studies have shown that post translational modifications targeting NGN3/PDX1 for degradation have an important role in determining how these factors can affect endocrine cell production. We are exploring novel mechanisms identified for NGN3 and PDX1 degradation. Understanding and harnessing this machinery can represent a potential tool to improve beta cells production in vitro.