Biomaterial Database

Retinoic acid mediates Pax6 expression during in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells. 1997

S Gajović, and L St-Onge, and Y Yokota, and P Gruss

Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Göttingen, Germany. sgajovi@mamef.mef.hr

Neural cells are found rarely during differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells in vitro. To increase the yield of neuronal and glial cells from ES cells, we designed a differentiation procedure in which embryoid bodies were grown in medium containing retinoic acid (RA) and a low level (1%) of fetal calf serum. Using this procedure we were able to obtain neurofilament or glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells in 90% of outgrowths of embryonic bodies. Differentiation was dependent on the RA concentration, whereas depletion of RA favored the appearance of cardiac muscle cells. Differentiation of ES cells correlated with increased activity of Pax6, a transcription factor involved in central nervous system development. Pax6 was not expressed in undifferentiated ES cells, nor after differentiation by depletion of leukemia inhibitory factor or by overgrowth. After embryoid body formation and subsequent attachment, only infrequently did a few cells express Pax6. Addition of RA resulted in the appearance of Pax6-expressing cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with a peak at 100 nM RA. The presented differentiation procedure can be used for studying the molecular biology of neurogenesis in vitro.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009206	Myocardium	The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow.	Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D012097	Repressor Proteins	Proteins which maintain the transcriptional quiescence of specific GENES or OPERONS. Classical repressor proteins are DNA-binding proteins that are normally bound to the OPERATOR REGION of an operon, or the ENHANCER SEQUENCES of a gene until a signal occurs that causes their release.	Repressor Molecules,Transcriptional Silencing Factors,Proteins, Repressor,Silencing Factors, Transcriptional
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D005136	Eye Proteins	PROTEINS derived from TISSUES of the EYE.	Proteins, Eye
D000071841	PAX6 Transcription Factor	A paired box transcription factor that has important functions in the development of the eye, nose, central nervous system and pancreas. Mutations in the PAX6 gene are associated with ocular disorders such as ANIRIDIA.	Aniridia Type II Protein,Oculorhombin,PAX6 Protein,Paired Box Gene 6 Protein,Paired Box Protein Pax-6,Paired Box Transcription Factor 6,Pax-6 Protein,Pax6.1 Protein,Pax6.2 Protein,Transcription Factor PAX6,Factor PAX6, Transcription,Factor, PAX6 Transcription,PAX6, Transcription Factor,Paired Box Protein Pax 6,Pax 6 Protein,Protein, PAX6,Protein, Pax-6,Protein, Pax6.1,Protein, Pax6.2,Transcription Factor, PAX6
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013234	Stem Cells	Relatively undifferentiated cells that retain the ability to divide and proliferate throughout postnatal life to provide progenitor cells that can differentiate into specialized cells.	Colony-Forming Units,Mother Cells,Progenitor Cells,Colony-Forming Unit,Cell, Mother,Cell, Progenitor,Cell, Stem,Cells, Mother,Cells, Progenitor,Cells, Stem,Colony Forming Unit,Colony Forming Units,Mother Cell,Progenitor Cell,Stem Cell