Symmetry breaking, germ layer specification and axial organisation in aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are clonal populations derived from preimplantation mouse embryos that can be propagated in vitro and, when placed into blastocysts, contribute to all tissues of the embryo and integrate into the normal morphogenetic processes, i.e. they are pluripotent. However, although they can be steered to differentiate in vitro into all cell types of the organism, they cannot organise themselves into structures that resemble embryos. When aggregated into embryoid bodies they develop disorganised masses of different cell types with little spatial coherence. An exception to this rule is the emergence of retinas and anterior cortex-like structures under minimal culture conditions. These structures emerge from the cultures without any axial organisation. Here, we report

SUBMITTER: van den Brink SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4302915 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature