Synthetic small molecules that control stem cell fate

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jun 24;100(13):7632-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0732087100. Epub 2003 Jun 6.

Abstract

In an attempt to better understand and control the processes that regulate stem cell fate, we have set out to identify small molecules that induce neuronal differentiation in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). A high-throughput phenotypic cell-based screen of kinase-directed combinatorial libraries led to the discovery of TWS119, a 4,6-disubstituted pyrrolopyrimidine that can induce neurogenesis in murine ESCs. The target of TWS119 was shown to be glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) by both affinity-based and biochemical methods. This study provides evidence that GSK-3beta is involved in the induction of mammalian neurogenesis in ESCs. This and such other molecules are likely to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that control stem cell fate, and may ultimately be useful to in vivo stem cell biology and therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Silver Staining
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Time Factors
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyrroles
  • Trans-Activators
  • beta Catenin