Combinatorial binding in human and mouse embryonic stem cells identifies conserved enhancers active in early embryonic development.

ABSTRACT: Transcription factors are proteins that regulate gene expression by binding to cis-regulatory sequences such as promoters and enhancers. In embryonic stem (ES) cells, binding of the transcription factors OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG is essential to maintain the capacity of the cells to differentiate into any cell type of the developing embryo. It is known that transcription factors interact to regulate gene expression. In this study we show that combinatorial binding is strongly associated with co-localization of the transcriptional co-activator Mediator, H3K27ac and increased expression of nearby genes in embryonic stem cells. We observe that the same loci bound by Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 in ES cells frequently drive expression in early embryonic development. Comparison of mouse and human ES cells s

SUBMITTER: Goke J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245296 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature