Gene expression analysis upon exposure of hESCs to novel set of self-renewal and differentiation compounds

Here we present a strategy to adapt hESCs to high-throughput screening (HTS) conditions, resulting in an assay suitable for the discovery of small molecules that drive hESC self-renewal or differentiation. Use of this new assay has led to the identification of several currently marketed drugs and natural compounds promoting short-term hESC maintenance and compounds directing early lineage choice. Global gene expression analysis upon drug treatment reveals overlapping and novel pathways correlated to hESC self-renewal and differentiation. Our results demonstrate feasibility of hESC-based HTS and enhance the available repertoire of chemical compounds for manipulating hESC fate.

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Desbordes SC, Placantonakis DG, Ciro A, Socci ND, Lee G, Djaballah H, Studer L