Stemcell, 100-0249, Forskolin

Forskolin is a cell-permeable diterpene that directly activates adenylyl cyclase (IC₅₀ = 41 nM), the enzyme that produces cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which as a result raises cAMP levels in the cell. cAMP is an important second messenger involved in many signal transduction pathways, including activation of protein kinase A (PKA; Awad et al.; Robbins et al.).

REPROGRAMMING

· Enables chemical reprogramming (without genetic factors) of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, in combination with CHIR99021, Tranylcypromine, Valproic Acid, 3-Deazaneplanocin A, and RepSox (Hou et al.).

· Enables NGN2-mediated transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts to cholinergic neurons (Liu et al.).

· Direct lineage reprogramming of fibroblasts to mature neurons, in combination with RepSox, CHIR99021, SP600125, Valproic Acid, Gö6983 and Y-27632 (Hu et al.).

· Direct lineage reprogramming of fibroblasts to mature neurons, in combination with CHIR99021, ISX-9, SB431542, and I-BET151 (Li et al.).

· Converts human embryonic stem (ES) cells in a “naïve” or ground state similar to mouse ES cells, in combination with LIF, FGF2, TGFβ and small molecules PD0325901, CHIR99021, SP600125, and SB203580 (Hanna et al.).

DIFFERENTIATION

· Potentiates neuronal differentiation of rat hippocampal neural progenitor cells (Hsieh et al., Palmer et al.).