Abstract
Extraembryonic endoderm (ExE) is differentiated from the inner cell mass of the late blastocyst-stage embryo to form visceral and parietal endoderm, both of which have an important role in early embryogenesis. The essential roles of Gata-6 and Gata-4 on differentiation of visceral endoderm have been identified by analyses of knockout mice. Here we report that forced expression of either Gata-6 or Gata-4 in embryonic stem (ES) cells is sufficient to induce the proper differentiation program towards ExE. We believe that this is the first report of a physiological differentiation event induced by the ectopic expression of a transcription factor in ES cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blotting, Northern
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Blotting, Western
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
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DNA, Complementary / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Endoderm / metabolism
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GATA4 Transcription Factor
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GATA6 Transcription Factor
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Humans
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Mice
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Microscopy, Electron
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Models, Biological
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Plasmids / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Time Factors
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcription, Genetic
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Transfection
Substances
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DNA, Complementary
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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GATA4 Transcription Factor
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GATA6 Transcription Factor
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GATA6 protein, human
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Gata6 protein, mouse
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RNA, Messenger
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Transcription Factors