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Retroviral Infection of Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Embryoid Body Cells for Analysis of Hematopoietic Differentiation
Published on: October 20, 2014
Murine Embryonic Stem Cells Possess Distinct E2F Activity That Activates Tumor Suppressor Promoter Elements
Yaxuan Zhou1, Rinka Nakajima1, Mashiro Shirasawa1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Hyogo, Japan.
Summary
Distinct E2F activity, typically found in cancer, is also present in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). This deregulated activity in mESCs is suppressed by cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Transcription factor E2F is vital for cell proliferation and tumor suppression.
- Retinoblastoma protein (pRB) normally inhibits E2F in resting cells.
- Distinct E2F activity arises from pRB inactivation and is characteristic of cancer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) exhibit distinct E2F activity.
- To understand the regulation of E2F activity in rapidly proliferating mESCs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of E2F activity in mESCs.
- Assessment of the impact of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors on E2F activity.
Main Results:
- mESCs display distinct E2F activity, similar to cancer cell lines.
- CDK inhibitors enhanced the deregulated E2F activity in mESCs.
- This suggests CDK activity suppresses distinct E2F activity in mESCs.
Conclusions:
- Distinct E2F activity is not exclusive to cancer cells but is also present in proliferating mESCs.
- CDK activity plays a regulatory role in suppressing distinct E2F activity in mESCs.
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