Premium
Sialylation Is Dispensable for Early Murine Embryonic Development in Vitro
Author(s) -
Abeln Markus,
Borst Kristina M.,
Cajic Samanta,
Thiesler Hauke,
Kats Elina,
Albers Iris,
Kuhn Maike,
Kaever Volkhard,
Rapp Erdmann,
MünsterKühnel Anja,
Weinhold Birgit
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.201700083
Subject(s) - embryoid body , embryonic stem cell , glycoconjugate , microbiology and biotechnology , germ layer , sialic acid , intracellular , in vitro , induced pluripotent stem cell , cellular differentiation , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , gene
The negatively charged nonulose sialic acid (Sia) is essential for murine development in vivo. In order to elucidate the impact of sialylation on differentiation processes in the absence of maternal influences, we generated mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) lines that lack CMP‐Sia synthetase (CMAS) and thereby the ability to activate Sia to CMP‐Sia. Loss of CMAS activity resulted in an asialo cell surface accompanied by an increase in glycoconjugates with terminal galactosyl and oligo‐LacNAc residues, as well as intracellular accumulation of free Sia. Remarkably, these changes did not impact intracellular metabolites or the morphology and transcriptome of pluripotent mESC lines. Moreover, the capacity of Cmas −/− mESCs for undirected differentiation into embryoid bodies, germ layer formation and even the generation of beating cardiomyocytes provides first and conclusive evidence that pluripotency and differentiation of mESC in vitro can proceed in the absence of (poly)sialoglycans.