Abstract
ES cells can self-renew while preserving pluripotency and are able to differentiate into many cell types. In both processes, different signal transduction pathways are implicated, including the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, which we here further analyzed. We found that a loss of beta-catenin in ES cells leads to altered expression of stem cell marker genes. TCF/beta-catenin reporter gene assays indicate that undifferentiated murine ES cells are capable of reacting to LiCl and Wnt3a but not Wnt5a stimulation, but have low endogenous TCF/beta-catenin activity. Oct-3/4, nanog and Wnt11 were able to repress TCF/beta-catenin transcriptional activity. During differentiation, activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway influences formation of mesoderm and cardiomyocytes in a time and dose dependent manner.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cells, Cultured
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Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
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Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects
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Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
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Fetal Proteins / genetics
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Lithium Chloride / pharmacology
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
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Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
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Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Signal Transduction
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T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
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TCF Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Wnt Proteins / genetics
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Wnt Proteins / metabolism
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Wnt Proteins / pharmacology
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Wnt3 Protein
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Wnt3A Protein
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beta Catenin / deficiency
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beta Catenin / genetics
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beta Catenin / metabolism*
Substances
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CTNNB1 protein, mouse
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Fetal Proteins
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Recombinant Proteins
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T-Box Domain Proteins
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TCF Transcription Factors
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Transcription Factors
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Wnt Proteins
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Wnt3 Protein
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Wnt3A Protein
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Wnt3a protein, mouse
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beta Catenin
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Brachyury protein
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Lithium Chloride