Stk40 deletion elevates c-JUN protein level and impairs mesoderm differentiation

Mesoderm development is a finely tuned process initiated by the differentiation of pluripotent epiblast cells. Serine/threonine kinase 40 (STK40) controls the development of several mesoderm-derived cell types, its overexpression induces differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) toward the extraembryonic endoderm, and Stk40 knockout (KO) results in multiple organ failure and is lethal at the perinatal stage in mice. However,...