title: Eomesodermin induces Mesp1 expression and cardiac differentiation from embryonic stem cells in the absence of Activin.
abstract: The transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes) is involved in early embryonic patterning, but the range of cell fates that it controls as well as its mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here we show that transient expression of Eomes promotes cardiovascular fate during embryonic stem cell differentiation. Eomes also rapidly induces the expression of Mesp1, a key regulator of cardiovascular differentiation, and directly binds to regulatory sequences of Mesp1. Eomes effects are strikingly modulated by Activin signalling: high levels of Activin inhibit the promotion of cardiac mesoderm by Eomes, while they enhance Eomes-dependent endodermal specification. These results place Eomes upstream of the Mesp1-dependent programme of cardiogenesis, and at the intersection of mesodermal and endodermal specification, depending on the levels of Activin/Nodal signalling.
authors.affiliation: IRIBHM (Institute for Interdisciplinary Research), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Erasme, Brussels B-1070, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Ameele
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tiberi
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bondue
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paulissen
authors.forename: Adèle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herpoel
authors.forename: Michelina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iacovino
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyba
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanpain
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanderhaeghen
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D028341:Activins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C491198:Eomes protein, mouse; C101538:Mesp1 protein, mouse