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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

The use of SC1 (Pluripotin) to Support mESC Self-renewal in the Absence of LIF
Published on: November 18, 2009
Cdk1 is required for the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells
Wei Wei Zhang1, Xiao Jie Zhang, Hui Xian Liu
1College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China. zhangweiwei2002@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) is indispensible for the early development of the embryo. However, its role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of the embryonic stem (ES) cells remains unknown. In this study, we dissected the function of Cdk1 in mouse ES cells by RNA-interference and gene expression analyses. Cdk1 expression is tightly correlated with the undifferentiated state of the ES cells. Upon differentiation, Cdk1 expression reduced drastically. Cdk1 knock-down by RNA interference resulted in the loss of proliferation and colony formation potential of the ES cells. Consequentially, expression of self-renewal genes was reduced while differentiation markers such as Cdx2 were induced. Our results suggest a role for Cdk1 in maintaining the unique undifferentiated and self-renewing state of the mouse ES cells.
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