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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening
Published on: May 12, 2017
Selective Inhibition of mTORC1 Signaling Supports the Development and Maintenance of Pluripotency
Jin Koo Kim1, Luis G Villa-Diaz2, Thomas L Saunders3
1Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Insight into the molecular mechanisms governing the development and maintenance of pluripotency is important for understanding early development and the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine. We demonstrate the selective inhibition of mTORC1 signaling is important for developing the inner cell mass (ICM) and the self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells. S6K suppressed the expression and function of pluripotency-related transcription factors (PTFs) OCT4, SOX2, and KLF4 through phosphorylation and ubiquitin proteasome-mediated protein degradation, indicating that S6K inhibition is required for pluripotency. PTFs inhibited mTOR signaling. The phosphorylation of S6 was decreased in PTF-positive cells of the ICM in embryos. Activation of mTORC1 signaling blocked ICM formation and the selective inhibition of S6K by rapamycin increased the ICM size in mouse blastocysts. Thus, selective inhibition of mTORC1 signaling supports the development and maintenance of pluripotency.
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