Nucleolin maintains embryonic stem cell self-renewal by suppression of p53 protein-dependent pathway.

ABSTRACT: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can undergo unlimited self-renewal and retain pluripotent developmental potential. The unique characteristics of ESCs, including a distinct transcriptional network, a poised epigenetic state, and a specific cell cycle profile, distinguish them from somatic cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these special properties of ESCs are not fully understood. Here, we report that nucleolin, a nucleolar protein highly expressed in undifferentiated ESCs, plays an essential role for the maintenance of ESC self-renewal. When nucleolin is knocked down by specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA), ESCs display dramatically reduced cell proliferation rate, increased cell apoptosis, and G(1) phase accumulation. Down-regulation of nucleolin also leads to evident ESC diffe

SUBMITTER: Yang A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3234871 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature