Product Overview

SC1 (Pluripotin) was identified in a cell-based screen of a chemical library for small molecules that regulate the mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal¹. It was shown that SC1 is sufficient to sustain long-term self-renewal of mouse ES cells in an undifferentiated state in the absence of LIF, feeder cells, or serum. SC1 acts through dual inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and Ras GTPase-activating protein (Ras-GAP). Inactivation of ERK1 blocks differentiation, whereas inhibition of Ras-GAP activates Ras and PI3K, promoting self-renewal of mouse ES cells. Mouse ES cells maintained in the presence of SC1 retain their ability to differentiate into cells representing all three germ layers in vitro, form chimeric mouse, and contribute to germ line in vivo.

References

1. Chen, S., Do, J. T., Zhang, Q., Yao, S., Yan, F., Peters, E. C., Schöler, H. R., Schultz, P. G., and Ding, S. (2006) Self-renewal of embryonic stem cells by a small molecule. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103(46):17266-17271.