Abstract

The decision of stem cells to leave the self-renewing state and select a differentiation pathway is regulated by a number of transcription factors (TFs). In this work, we employed a mathematical model to study the embryonic stem cell differentiation to primitive streak. Specifically, using experimental data reported in literatures, we constructed a gene regulatory network (GRN) of TFs regulating the primitive streak commitment. The GRN consisted of three main TFs: OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG interacting with Eomesodermin (EOMES), which was the key TF controlling the formation of primitive streak. The mathematical model was derived using kinetics of gene regulation in the form of system of ordinary differential equations. The results of simulations demonstrated that the model was capable of predicting the stem cell's decision.