Cross-species transcriptional profiles establish a functional portrait of embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT: An understanding of the regulatory mechanisms responsible for pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is critical for realizing their potential in medicine and science. Significant similarities exist among ESCs harvested from different species, yet major differences have also been observed. Here, by cross-species analysis of a large set of functional categories and all transcription factors and growth factors, we reveal conserved and divergent functional landscapes underlining fundamental and species-specific mechanisms that regulate ESC development. Global transcriptional trends derived from all expressed genes, instead of differentially expressed genes alone, were examined, allowing for a higher discriminating power in the functional portrait. We demonstrate that cross-species correl

SUBMITTER: Sun Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2658876 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature