Regulation of differentiation by rhogtpases in mouse embryonic stem cells

Abstract

RhoGTPases plays an essential role in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton that is important for many cellular activities in most mammalian cell types. Here, we report that RhoA, a RhoGTPase, preferentially directs cell fate specification towards endoderm and mesoderm lineages, while inhibiting ectodermal differentiation. Interestingly, our data suggest that RhoA-mediated cell fate specification is independent of ROK and mDia, the two main effectors downstream of RhoA. In addition, we have also investigated how the microenvironment can influence cell fate decision. Taken together, we have discovered a new role of RhoA in the regulation of cell fate determination during differentiation of mESCs.