The core cell cycle machinery and its associated signaling pathways play
critical roles in regulation of stem cell properties. Cell cycle length and rate is a
determining factor for stem cells to maintain pluripotency or undergo differentiation.
Manipulating the cell cycle has functional consequences for tissue differentiation as
well as somatic cell reprogramming. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that
cell cycle regulators may control pluripotency and differentiation by direct interaction
with the pluripotency network and other essential signal pathways without altering the
cell cycle per se. In this chapter, we summarize the current understanding of the role of
the cell cycle and cell cycle regulators in the process of development, pluripotency,
differentiation, and reprogramming.
Keywords: Asymmetric cell division, cell cycle, cell cycle regulators, cell fate
decision, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), cyclins, differentiation, embryonic
development, epigenetic regulation, p53, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), Rb, selfrenewal,
somatic reprogramming.
