Self-renewal and differentiation of adult stem cells ensures tissue homeostasis. De Haan and colleagues find that the chromatin-associated polycomb protein Cbx7 ensures self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), whereas other polycomb proteins, such as Cbx8, induce differentiation. They find that although genes targeted by Cbx8 are highly expressed in HSCs and repressed in progenitors, Cbx7 target genes have the opposite expression pattern.
- Karin Klauke
- Višnja Radulović
- Gerald de Haan
