Identification of oxygen-sensitive transcriptional programs in human embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT: To realize the full potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), it is important to develop culture conditions that maintain hESCs in a pluripotent, undifferentiated state. A low O(2) atmosphere (approximately 4% O(2)), for example, prevents spontaneous differentiation and supports self-renewal of hESCs. To identify genes whose expression is sensitive to O(2) conditions, microarray analysis was performed on RNA from hESCs that had been maintained under either 4% or 20% O(2). Of 149 genes differentially expressed, 42 were up-regulated and 107 down-regulated under 20% O(2). Several of the down-regulated genes are most likely under the control of hypoxia-inducing factors and include genes encoding enzymes involved in carbohydrate catabolism and cellular redox state. Although genes associa

SUBMITTER: Westfall SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3189708 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature