E-Cadherin Acts as a Regulator of Transcripts Associated with a Wide Range of Cellular Processes in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
2011

E-cadherin's Role in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Francesca Soncin, Lisa Mohamet, Sarah Ritson, Kate Hawkins, Nicoletta Bobola, Leo Zeef, Catherine L. R. Merry, Christopher M. Ward

Primary Institution: The University of Manchester

Hypothesis

E-cadherin is required for LIF-dependent pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Conclusion

Loss of E-cadherin in mouse embryonic stem cells leads to significant transcript alterations independently of β-catenin/TCF transactivation.

Supporting Evidence

  • E-cadherin null ES cells maintain expression of pluripotency markers via Activin/Nodal signalling.
  • Only 2 genes showed statistically significant differences in transcript expression in the absence of LIF.
  • Ecad-/- ES cells exhibit increased proliferation compared to wtD3 ES cells.

Takeaway

E-cadherin helps keep stem cells in a special state where they can become any type of cell, and without it, the cells change a lot.

Methodology

Global transcript expression was assessed in E-cadherin null ES cells cultured with or without LIF and compared to the parental cell line.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on transcript alterations without exploring functional outcomes in detail.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0021463

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