title: How signaling promotes stem cell survival: trophoblast stem cells and Shp2.
abstract: Trophoblast stem (TS) cells require FGF4 for self-renewal and to prevent differentiation. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Yang and colleagues show that the tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 prevents apoptosis in TS cells, by activation of Erk and subsequent phosphorylation and destabilization of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim. These studies provide a novel link between FGF/Erk signaling and cell survival that may be relevant to other stem and progenitor cell niches.
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Medical Genetics and Microbiology, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossant
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002470:Cell Survival; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases