MRAS GTPase is a novel stemness marker that impacts mouse embryonic stem cell plasticity and Xenopus embryonic cell fate

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.091082
• Publication Date: 2013-07-18T01:47:53Z
• Authors: Marie-Emmanuelle ...; Corinne Faucheux; Claire Saucourt; Fabienne Soulet; Xavier Gauthereau; Sandrine Fédou; Marina Trouillas; Nadine Thézé; Pierre Thiébaud; Hélène Boeuf
• Keywords: MRAS; Homeobox protein NANOG; Rex1

Pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), maintained in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) cytokine, provide a powerful model with which to study pluripotency and differentiation programs. Extensive microarray studies on cultured have led identification three LIF signatures. Here we focus muscle ras oncogene homolog (MRAS), is small GTPase Ras family encoded within Pluri gene cluster. To characterise effects Mras cell differentiation, used gain- loss-of-function strategies mESCs Xenopus laevis embryo, structure protein sequence are conserved. We show that persistent knockdown reduces expression specific master genes MRAS plays crucial role downregulation OCT4 NANOG levels upon differentiation. In Xenopus, demonstrate potential modulate fate at early steps development during neurogenesis. Overexpression allows gastrula retain responsiveness fibroblast growth (FGF) activin. Collectively, these results highlight novel conserved pleiotropic development.