LE(X) STRUCTURE ENHANCES MYOCARDIAL DIFFERENTIATION FROM EMBRYONIC STEM-CELLS

alpha-1,3-Fucosyltransferase (Fuc T IV) cDNA was placed under the cont rol of beta-actin, cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter and transfected i nto embryonic stem cells. The transfected cell clones with integrated cDNA (positive clones) differentiated more efficiently into myocardial cells than the clones without integrated cDNA (negative clones) or pa rental cells. Furthermore, myocardial cells differentiated from the po sitive clones survived longer than those differentiated from the negat ive clones or parental cells. These results indicate that Lewis X stru cture, the product of Fuc T IV, enhances myocardial differentiation. T he mechanism of the phenomenon is discussed in relation to integrin ac tion.