CV and abstract Luciano Di Croce - B·Debate

SPEAKER AT:November, 21 st and 22 nd , 2013, BarcelonaDissecting the Role of the Polycomb in Embryonic Stem Cell CancerPolycomb group of proteins are transcriptional repressors and play essential roles inregulating genes required for differentiation and embryonic development. Moreover,alteration in the expression of Polycomb group proteins have long been linked to theoccurrence of different types of human diseases. Mechanistically, Polycomb proteins format least two distinct complexes: the Polycomb-repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 andPRC2).It is especially critical for stem cells that their potential to self-renewal and todifferentiate is tightly controlled and properly orchestrated. Misregulation of the levels ofPolycomb protein often leads to either a block or an unscheduled activation ofdevelopmental pathways, and thus to an alteration in the cell cycle control. Theconsequences of this misregulation have been linked to the establishment of cancer stemcells, which can produce tumors through the combination of an increase in self-renewalwith a lack of complete cellular differentiation. I will discuss how Polycomb proteinsimpact on cancer, and their role in stem cell biology.