[Division of Stem Cell Research]
Department of Stem Cell Biology
The main goal of the lab is to understand the development of pancreas. We use mouse, chick and ES cell models to search for molecules that function in early events of pancreatic development. For this purpose, we currently devote on the following projects
- Identification of genes that regulate endoderm induction and pancreatic differentiation.
- Establishment of pancreatic differentiation of ES cells in vitro.
- Studies on the biology of pancreas stem cells.
1) Identification of genes that regulate endoderm induction and pancreatic differentiation.
We aim at identifying genes function in pancreatic development. This includes genes function specifically in cell fate decision to: a) endodermal fate, b) pancreatic fate, and c) endocrine fate.
In our lab we use different experimental systems, such as chick, mouse or ES cells, which have the advantage in manipulating in vitro, to identify molecules function at early stages of the endoderm development.
2) Establishment of pancreatic differentiation of ES cells in vitro.
We regard ES cells as a useful tool for in vitro dissection of early inductive processes. We established an efficient in vitro system for ES cells to differentiate into definitive endoderm and then specific lineages of pancreas. To gain insights into molecular mechanism underlying pancreatic development, we isolate ES cell-derived pancreatic progenitor cells or intermediate cell types and analyze genes expression profiles in these cells.
3) Studies on the biology of pancreas stem cells
We aim at identification of novel molecular marker for pancreatic stem/progenitor cell. For this aim, we analyze genes expressed in ES cell-derived pancreas cells, embryonic pancreas and regenerating pancreas.
