Regulatory roles of ganglioside GQ1b in neuronal cell differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells

• Published in: BMB reports 2011, 44(12), , pp.799-804
• Main Authors: Kwak, D.H., Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Jin, J.W., Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea, Ryu, J.S., Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea, Ko, K.R., Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Lee, S.D., Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea, Lee, J.W., Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Kim, J.S., National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Republic of Korea, Jung, K.Y., Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea, Ko, K.S., Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea, Ma, J.Y., Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Hwang, K.A., National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea, Chang, K.T., National Primate Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Republic of Korea, Choo, Y.K., Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 8-sialyltransferase 5; Ganglioside GQ1b; MAP kinase; Mouse embryonic stem cells; Neuronal differentiation; SFINGOLIPIDOS; SPHINGOLIPIDE; SPHINGOLIPIDS; ST8 alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminidase alpha-2; 화학
• ISSN: 1976-6696; 1976-670X
• DOI: 10.5483/BMBRep.2011.44.12.799

Gangliosides play an important role in neuronal differentiation processes. The regulation of ganglioside levels is related to the induction of neuronal cell differentiation. In this study, the ST8Sia5 gene was transfected into mESCs and then differentiated into neuronal cells. Interestingly, ST8Sia5 gene transfected mESCs expressed GQ1b by HPTLC and immunofluorescence analysis. To investigate the effects of GQ1b over-expression in neurogenesis, neuronal cells were differentiated from GQ1b expressing mESCs in the presence of retinoic acid. In GQ1b expressing mESCs, increased EBs formation was observed. After 4 days, EBs were co-localized with GQ1b and nestin, and GFAP. Moreover, GQ1b co-localized with MAP-2 expressing cells in GQ1b expressing mESCs in 7-day-old EBs. Furthermore, GQ1b expressing mESCs increased the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway. These results suggest that the ST8Sia5 gene increases ganglioside GQ1b and improves neuronal differentiation via the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway.