Embryonic Stem Cell Engineering with a Glycomimetic FGF2/BMP4 Co-Receptor Drives Mesodermal Differentiation in a Three-Dimensional Culture.

ABSTRACT: Cell surface glycans, such as heparan sulfate (HS), are increasingly identified as co-regulators of growth factor signaling in early embryonic development; therefore, chemical tailoring of HS activity within the cellular glycocalyx of stem cells offers an opportunity to control their differentiation. The growth factors FGF2 and BMP4 are involved in mediating the exit of murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs) from their pluripotent state and their differentiation toward mesodermal cell types, respectively. Here, we report a method for remodeling the glycocalyx of mutant Ext1^-/- mESCs with defective biosynthesis of HS to drive their mesodermal differentiation in an embryoid body culture. Lipid-functionalized synthetic HS-mimetic glycopolymers with affinity for both FGF2 and BMP4 were

SUBMITTER: Naticchia MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6252183 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature