COMPOUNDS THAT MAINTAIN PLURIPOTENCY OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

摘要

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells. The methods relate to growing the ES cells in the presence of small molecules of formula (I) that maintain the pluripotency/se lf- renewal of the cells without feeder cells and LIF in serum-free conditions. These methods in part facilitate much more consistency in embryonic stem cel l production, providing, for example, new avenues in the practical application s of embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine.