Inhibition of Mitochondrial Complex III Blocks Neuronal Differentiation and Maintains Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082095
• Publication Date: 2013-12-02T22:00:49Z
• Authors: Sandro L. Pereira; Mário Grãos; Ana Sofia Rodrigues; Sandra I. Anjo; Rui A. Carvalho; Paulo J. Oliveira; Ernest Arenas; João Ramalho-Santos
• Keywords: Cell potency; Rex1

The mitochondrion is emerging as a key organelle in stem cell biology, acting regulator of pluripotency and differentiation. In this study we sought to understand the effect mitochondrial complex III inhibition during neuronal differentiation mouse embryonic cells. When exposed antimycin A, specific inhibitor, cells failed differentiate into dopaminergic neurons, maintaining high Oct4 levels even when subjected protocol. Mitochondrial affected distinct populations present culture, inducing loss differentiated cells, but not apoptosis A reduction overall proliferation rate was observed, corresponding slight arrest S phase. Moreover, treatment induced consistent increase HIF-1α protein levels. work demonstrates that metabolism critical for emphasizes modulation functions through pharmacological approaches can be useful context controlling maintenance/differentiation.