title: Activin/nodal signaling and pluripotency.
abstract: Maintenance of a pluripotent cell population during mammalian embryogenesis is crucial for the proper generation of extraembryonic and embryonic tissues to ensure intrauterine survival and fetal development. Pluripotent stem cells derived from early stage mammalian embryos are known as "embryonic stem cells." Such embryo-derived stem cells can proliferate indefinitely in vitro and give rise to derivatives of all three primary germ layers. Their potential for clinical and commercial applications has sparked great excitement within scientific and lay communities. Identification of the signaling pathways controlling stem cell pluripotency and differentiation provides knowledge-based approaches to manipulate stem cells for regenerative medicine. One of the signaling cascades that has been identified in the control of stem cell pluripotency and differentiation is the Activin/Nodal pathway. Here, we describe the differences among pluripotent cell types and discuss the latest findings on the molecular mechanisms involving Activin/Nodal signaling in controlling their pluripotency and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhenzhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chng
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vallier
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D055456:Nodal Signaling Ligands / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055457:Nodal Protein; D055456:Nodal Signaling Ligands; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins