title: Response to BMP4 signalling during ES cell differentiation defines intermediates of the ectoderm lineage.
abstract: The formation and differentiation of multipotent precursors underlies the generation of cell diversity during mammalian development. Recognition and analysis of these transient cell populations has been hampered by technical difficulties in accessing them in vivo. In vitro model systems, based on the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells, provide an alternative means of identifying and characterizing these populations. Using a previously established mouse ES-cell-based system that recapitulates the development of the ectoderm lineage we have identified a transient population that is consistent with definitive ectoderm. This previously unidentified progenitor occurs as a temporally discrete population during ES cell differentiation, and differs from the preceding and succeeding populations in gene expression and differentiation potential, with the unique ability to form surface ectoderm in response to BMP4 signalling.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Nathan T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lonic
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Rathjen
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rathjen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000196:embryology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D051379:Mice; D055495:Neurogenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D051785:Smad Proteins