The Role of Dax-1 in Regulating Pluripotency in mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

<p>The orphan receptor Dax-1 is highly expressed in pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells and shows a correlative reduction in expression as these cells differentiate. While it is known that Dax-1 is expressed in pluripotent mouse ES cells, the precise function of Dax-1 in these cells is not as well understood. Recent studies employing RNA interference (RNAi) to specifically reduce the expression of the Dax-1 gene in mouse ES cells found that upon the knock down of Dax-1, ES cells differentiated. These findings indicate that Dax-1 functions in a novel role in the maintenance of a relatively undifferentiated state in ES cells.</p> <p>Dax-1 is important in early embryonic development and, when mutated, adrenal insufficiency and disruption of normal tissue architecture results. In our study, we silenced Dax-1 expression in mouse ES cells using RNAi followed by PCR array methodology to identify genes that were alternately regulated upon targeted knock-down of Dax-1. Several novel Dax-1 targets have been identified, including genes that are involved in the Wnt signaling pathway. In attempts to understand the mechanism of Dax-1 action in ES cells, we are investigating the effect of Dax-1 knockdown on the regulation and expression of the identified target genes. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Biological Science (MBioSci)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Torres, Anthony

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christina Tzagarakis-Foster
• Jennifer Dever
• Scott Nunes

• Dax-1
• Stem Cells
• Pluripotency
• Self-renewal
• Wnt Signaling
• Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms
• Medical Cell Biology
• Medical Genetics
• Medical Molecular Biology
• Medical Sciences
• Translational Medical Research

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/54

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:thes-1061