AIM: Some small molecules can induce @entity19 embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into neuronal cells. Here, we explored the effect of @entity69838 ( @entity21927 ), a compound with a prenyl group at position 8 of ring A, on promoting neuronal differentiation and the potential role of its protein prenylation. METHODS: The hanging drop method was employed for embryonic body (EB) formation to mimic embryo development in vivo. The EBs were treated with @entity21927 at a final concentration of 10(-7) mol/L from EB stage (d 4) to d 8+10. Geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitor @entity22019 was subsequently used to disrupt protein prenylation. Neuronal subtypes, including neurons and astrocytes, were observed by fluorescence microscopy. Gene and protein expression levels were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: With @entity21927 treatment, nestin was highly expressed in the neural progenitors generated from EBs (d 4, d 8+0). EBs then further differentiated into neurons (marked by b-tubulin III) and astrocytes (marked by @entity9327 ), which were both up-regulated in a time-dependent manner on d 8+5 and d 8+10. Co-treatment with @entity22019 selectively abolished the @entity21927 -induced neuronal differentiation. Moreover, in the MAPK pathway, @entity1995 and JNK phosphorylation were down-regulated, while ERK phosphorylation was up-regulated after @entity21927 treatment at different neuronal differentiation passages. CONCLUSION: @entity21927 can facilitate @entity19 ES cells differentiating into neuronal cells. The mechanism involved protein prenylation and, subsequently, phos-ERK activation and the phos- @entity1995 off pathway.

Promoting effects of @entity69838 on neurogenesis of XXXX embryonic stem cells were associated with protein prenylation.

@entity69838 :: ('MESH:C468753', 'Chemical') :: ['isobavachin'] @entity22019 :: ('MESH:C102521', 'Chemical') :: ['GGTI-298'] @entity9327 :: ('14580(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['GFAP'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mouse'] @entity21927 :: ('CHEBI:46645', 'Chemical') :: ['IBA'] @entity1995 :: ('26416(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['p38']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['mouse']
