Cyclin‐dependent kinase 9 forms a complex with GATA4 and is involved in the differentiation of mouse ES cells into cardiomyocytes

The treatment of ES cells with trichostatin A (TSA), an HDAC inhibitor, induces the acetylation of GATA4 as well as histones, and facilitates their differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Recently, we demonstrated that cyclin‐dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9), a core component of positive elongation factor‐b, is a novel GATA4‐binding partner. The present study examined whether Cdk9 forms a complex with GATA4 in mouse ES cells and is involved in their differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Mouse ES cells and Nkx2.5/GFP ES cells, in which green fluorescent protein (GFP) is expressed under the control of the cardiac‐specific Nkx2.5 promoter, were induced to differentiate on feeder‐free gelatin‐coated plates. Immunoprecipitation/Western blotting in nuclear extracts from mouse ES cells demonstrated that Cdk9 as well as cyclin T1 interact with GATA4 during myocardial differentiation. TSA treatment increased Nkx2.5/GFP‐positive cells and endogenous mRNA levels of Nkx2.5 and atrial natriuretic factor. To determine the role of Cdk9 in myocardial cell differentiation, we examined the effects of a dominant‐negative form of Cdk9 (DN‐Cdk9), which loses its kinase activity, and a Cdk9 kinase inhibitor, 5,6‐dichloro‐1‐β‐ribofuranosyl‐benzimidazole (DRB) on TSA‐induced myocardial cell differentiation. The introduction of the DN‐Cdk9 inhibited TSA‐induced increase in GFP expression in Nkx2.5/GFP ES cells. The administration of DRB into ES cells significantly inhibited TSA‐induced increase of endogenous Nkx2.5 mRNA levels in ES cells as well as GFP expression in Nkx2.5/GFP ES cells. These findings demonstrate that Cdk9 is involved in the differentiation of mouse ES cells into cardiomyocytes by interacting with GATA4. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 248–254, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Distinct mechanisms control the timing of differentiation of two myeloid populations in Xenopus ventral blood islands

Previous study has suggested that distinct populations of myeloid cells exist in the anterior ventral blood islands (aVBI) and posterior ventral blood islands (pVBI) in Xenopus neurula embryo. However, details for differentiation programs of these two populations have not been elucidated. In the present study, we examined the role of Wnt, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor signals in the regulation of myeloid cell differentiation in the dorsal marginal zone and ventral marginal zone explants that are the sources of myeloid cells in the aVBI and pVBI. We found that regulation of Wnt activity is essential for the differentiation of myeloid cells in the aVBI but is not required for the differentiation of myeloid cells in the pVBI. Endogenous activity of the VEGF signal is necessary for differentiation of myeloid cells in the pVBI but is not involved in the differentiation of myeloid cells in the aVBI. Overall results reveal that distinct mechanisms are involved in the myeloid, erythroid and endothelial cell differentiation in the aVBI and pVBI.     

大鼠心肌发育相关基因在心肌梗死后的表达变化

探讨大鼠急性心肌梗死后与心肌发育相关基因的表达变化 .通过结扎大鼠冠状动脉左前降支建立急性心肌梗死模型 ,利用逆转录聚合酶链式反应 (RT PCR)和Northern印迹技术分别检测GATA4、Nkx2 5BMP2和Wnt11基因在心肌梗死后不同时间的表达变化趋势 .结果显示 ,在正常心肌中 ,与心肌发育相关的基因GATA4、Nkx2 5和BMP2有较强的表达 ,而Wnt11基础表达较低 .心肌梗死后 ,GATA4、Nkx2 5和BMP2表达下降 ,7d后有所恢复 ;Wnt11的表达在心肌梗死后呈上升趋势 ,至梗死 7d达到高峰 .结果提示 ,心肌发育相关基因的表达在心肌梗死后有明显改变 ,并发现启动心肌发育的关键信号分子———Wnt11基因表达上调 ,为心肌损伤后细胞分化机制的研究提供线索