title: Cdk1 is required for the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) is indispensible for the early development of the embryo. However, its role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of the embryonic stem (ES) cells remains unknown. In this study, we dissected the function of Cdk1 in mouse ES cells by RNA-interference and gene expression analyses. Cdk1 expression is tightly correlated with the undifferentiated state of the ES cells. Upon differentiation, Cdk1 expression reduced drastically. Cdk1 knock-down by RNA interference resulted in the loss of proliferation and colony formation potential of the ES cells. Consequentially, expression of self-renewal genes was reduced while differentiation markers such as Cdx2 were induced. Our results suggest a role for Cdk1 in maintaining the unique undifferentiated and self-renewing state of the mouse ES cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China. zhangweiwei2002@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wei Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui Xian
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Deng Gao
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiang Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; C507838:Lif protein, mouse; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C475540:Nanog protein, mouse; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse; D014212:Tretinoin; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase