Utilizing NMR to study RNA- and compound-binding mechanisms of Musashi-1, a stem/progenitor cell marker in various normal and cancer cells

Received: March 11, 2018; Accepted: March 29, 2018; Published: April 02, 2018 An RNA-binding protein, Musashi-1 (Msi1), is a posttranscriptional gene regulator that is involved in the regulation of stem cell self-renewal. Because of its high-level expression in neural stem cells (NSCs) and undifferentiated neural precursor cells [1], Msi1 is used as a cell marker for NSCs and progenitor cells in the central nervous system. Increasing evidence suggested that Mis1 acts as a critical regulator of the status of stem/progenitor cells in other tissues and organs [2,3], including the breast, eye, hair follicles, intestine, and stomach, in either embryonic or adult stages; thus, Msi1 may also be used as an effective marker for stem/progenitor cells in a wide range of tissues and organs.