Ganglioside GM1 influences the proliferation rate of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells

Gangliosides play important roles in the control of severalbiological processes, including proliferation and transmembranesignaling. In this study, we demonstrate the effect ofganglioside GM1 on the proliferation of mouse inducedpluripotent stem cells (miPSCs). The proliferation rate ofmiPSCs was lower than in mouse embryonic stem cells(mESCs). Fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis showedthat the percentage of cells in the G2/M phase in miPSCs waslower than that in mESCs. GM1 was expressed in mESCs, butnot miPSCs. To confirm the role of GM1 in miPSC proliferation,miPSCs were treated with GM1. GM1-treated miPSCsexhibited increased cell proliferation and a larger number ofcells in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, phosphorylation ofmitogen-activated protein kinases was increased in GM1-treated miPSCs.