Molecular Mechanism of neuroectodermal determination by zinc-finger proteins

在这项研究中，为了了解哺乳动物早期发育过程中神经外胚层分化的分子机制，我们利用多能干细胞体外分化系统分析了参与这一过程的两个锌指蛋白的作用。我们分离了XFDL156的哺乳动物同源基因mZfp12，并表明其在分化中的ES细胞中的过度表达促进了神经分化，抑制了中胚层分化。此外，我们还克隆了另一种锌指蛋白Zfp521，并证明了它在未成熟外胚层分化神经外胚层中的重要作用。

In this study, to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the neuroectodermal differentiation during early mammalian development, we analyzed the roles of two zinc-finger proteins that are involved in this process using in vitro differentiation system of pluripotent stem cells. We isolated mZfp12, a mammalian homolog of XFDL156, and showed that its overexpression in differentiating ES cells promotes neural differentiation and inhibits mesodermal differentiation. In addition, we iaolsted another zinc-finger protein Zfp521, and demonstrated its essential role in neuroectodermal differentiation from immature ectoderm.