Contrasting patterns of retinoblastoma protein expression in mouse embryonic stem cells and embryonic fibroblasts

The expression of the retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB-1) gene was investigated in highly proliferating mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and in slowly proliferating mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The RB protein was expressed at the same level in these two cell types. Mainly hyperphosphorylated RB was detected in exponentially-growing ES cells. Embryonic fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells were synchronized by colcemid block followed by mitotic shake-off. In embryonic fibroblasts, DNA replication started 10-15 h after exit from mitosis and RB was transiently dephosphorylated during the G1 phase as previously described. In ES cells, DNA replication started 2 h after release from the colcemid block but virtually no hypophosphorylated RB was observed after the release. Instead, there was a dramatic decrease in the total RB protein level between exit from mitosis and entry into S phase. These observations were made by using two different monoclonal antibodies, both in immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation experiments. Absence of hypophosphorylated RB and cell cycle-dependent change in total RB protein level may be relevant to the high proliferation rate and to the tumorigenic nature of mouse embryonic stem cells.