Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40890876›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

The role of ASS1 in mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation into mesendoderm lineages.

Guodong Zhao, Qiaoqiao Meng, Shuo Cao, Qiqi Jiang, Yanglin Chen, Baojiang Wu, Xihe Li, Siqin Bao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Guodong ZhaoResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China.
Qiaoqiao MengResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China.
Shuo CaoResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China.
Qiqi JiangResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China.
Yanglin ChenResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China.
Baojiang WuResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China.
Xihe LiResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China. lixh@imu.edu.cn.
Siqin BaoResearch Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, China. baosq@imu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9582-3194

Funding

Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project 2023ZD040750402'Leading the Charge with Open Competition' project of Inner Mongolia 2022JBGS0021National Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFD1302202
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundArgininosuccinate synthase (ASS1) is a pivotal enzyme involved in the urea cycle, playing a crucial role in aspartate catabolism, arginine and nitric oxide biosynthesis. These biological processes are crucial for the growth and development of mammals. However, the functions of urea cycle-related genes in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of ASS1 knockout on the mESCs pluripotency and its role in determining cell fate.

methodsASS1 was knocked out in mESCs using CRISPR-Cas9. Changes in pluripotency post-knockout were analyzed via immunofluorescence, Western blotting, differentiation assays, and chimera formation. Cardiomyocyte differentiation assays evaluated the impact on cardiac lineage specification. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), Western blotting, and signaling pathway inhibitors were used to investigate alterations in molecular signatures and regulatory mechanisms.

resultsASS1 knockout did not compromise mESCs pluripotency maintenance or self-renewal but perturbed the cell cycle. It upregulated mesendoderm markers while downregulating ectoderm markers. Notably, ASS1 deficiency enhanced cardiomyocyte differentiation potential. The multi-lineage differentiation markers were reversed by either ASS1 overexpression or treatment with Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors.

conclusionsASS1 knockout directs mESCs toward mesendoderm lineage commitment, thereby promoting beating cardiomyocyte generation. Thus, ASS1 acts as a regulatory switch whose absence drives mesendoderm differentiation and enhances cardiomyocyte production.

Indexed as

Argininosuccinate SynthaseCell DifferentiationEndodermMouse Embryonic Stem CellsAnimalsCell LineageMiceMyocytes, CardiacWnt Signaling PathwayArgininosuccinate SynthaseArgininosuccinate synthase (ASS1)CardiomyocyteMesendodermMouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs)Wnt/β-catenin

Identifiers

PMID40890876
PMCPMC12403944

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.