To identify genes implicated in the control of pluripotency as well as characteristics of stem cells, we analyzed expression profiles of genes derived from mouse morulas, blastocysts, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and uterus tissue cDNA microarray. Comparative analyses of their expression profiles identified putative clones that expressed specifically in specific samples or not in a specific sample. The expression pattern of these candidate clones was analyzed using RT-PCR and non-radioactive in situ hybridization. Functional annotation of these clones on pluripotency and stem cells and molecular mechanisms underlying many facets of mammalian development and differentiation.

A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)는 인슐린 신호전달의 상위구성 요소로 다양한 세포에서 단백질합성을 촉진한다. PI3K와 하위의 mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)가 착상전 생쥐 배아의 인슐린 신호전달에 관여하고 있는지의 여부를 조사하고자 하였다. 생쥐의 8-세포기 배아를 인슐린 또는 PI3K및 mTOR의 억제제를 포함한 조건에서 배양하면서 발생율, 할구수, 단백질합성 및 인산화를 조사하였