Investigating the Role of Heterodimeric Nodal/Gdf3 in the Maintenance of hESC Pluripotency

Pluripotency is the property by which immature cells can give rise to all specialized cell types within an adult organism. Human embryonic stem cells, or hESCs, are pluripotent cells which have remarkable potential in regenerative medicine. Clinical translation of stem cell therapy requires better culture conditions which properly maintain hESCs. One important regulator of pluripotency is Nodal signalling, a highly conserved pathway required for early embryonic development. However, limitations of applying Nodal signalling to hESC culture suggests that our understanding of the pathway is incomplete. Recent work in model organisms has shown that Gdf3, a co-factor protein, is required alongside Nodal to exert its effects. Hence, we are investigating how concurrent use of both Nodal and Gdf3 can improve the maintenance of hESC pluripotency in culture. Our research will yield significant implications regarding the molecular mechanisms of pluripotency and stem cell signalling.

Faculty Supervisor:

Norman Rosenblum

Student:

Partner:

The Jackson Laboratory

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: