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Graded Nodal/Activin Signaling Governs ES Cell Fate Decisions via Differential Recruitment of Phospho-Smad2 to Oct4 and Distinct Target Gene Subsets.

ABSTRACT: The Nodal/Activin morphogens are secreted signaling molecules that form concentration gradients during early embryogenesis providing stem cells with positional information and differentiation instructions important for embryonic patterning. The molecular basis driving stem cell interpretation of signaling gradients and the undertaking of distinct cell fate decisions remains poorly understood. We show that perturbation of endogenous Nodal/Activin signaling in ES cells leads to exit from self renewal towards mesendodermal differentiation at high signaling and trophectoderm induction during low signaling. ChIP-seq of Phospho-Smad2, the downstream transcription factor of the Nodal/Activin pathway reveals binding to distinct subsets of target genes in a dose dependent manner including the promoter region of the Oct4 master regulator of stemness. Consequently, both Oct4 mRNA and protein levels are directly driven by graded Nodal/Activin signaling. Hence stem cells interpret and carry out differential Nodal/Activin signaling instructions via a corresponding gradient of Smad2 phosphorylation that selectively titers self renewal against alternative differentiation programs.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE23581 | GEO | 2011/01/31

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA131845

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Nodal and Activin are morphogens of the TGFbeta superfamily of signaling molecules that direct differential cell fate decisions in a dose- and distance-dependent manner. During early embryonic development the Nodal/Activin pathway is responsible for the specification of mesoderm, endoderm, node and mesendoderm. In contradiction to this drive towards cellular differentiation, the pathway also plays important roles in the maintenance of self-renewal and pluripotency in embryonic and epiblast stem cells. The molecular basis behind stem cell interpretation of Nodal/Activin signaling gradients and the undertaking of disparate cell fate decisions remains poorly understood. Here, we show that any perturbation of endogenous signaling levels in mouse ES cells leads to their exit from self renewal towards divergent differentiation programs. Increasing Nodal signals above basal levels by direct stimulation with Activin promotes differentiation towards the mesendodermal lineages while repression of signaling with the specific Nodal/Activin receptor inhibitor SB431542 induces trophectodermal differentiation. To address how quantitative Nodal/Activin signals are translated qualitatively into distinct cell fates decisions, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation of phospho-Smad2 the primary downstream transcriptional factor of the Nodal/Activin pathway followed by massively parallel sequencing and show that phospho-Smad2 binds to and regulates distinct subsets of target genes in a dose-dependent manner. Crucially, Nodal/Activin signaling directly controls the Oct4 master regulator of pluripotency by graded phospho-Smad2 binding in the promoter region. Hence stem cells interpret and carry out differential Nodal/Activin signaling instructions via a corresponding gradient of Smad2 phosphorylation that selectively titrates self-renewal against alternative differentiation programs by direct regulation of distinct target gene subsets and Oct4 expression. Four biological replicates consisting of 4 different passages of E14TG2a ES cells at P20, P21, P23 and P24

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Graded Nodal/Activin Signaling Governs ES Cell Fate Decisions via Differential Recruitment of Phospho-Smad2 to Oct4 and Distinct Target Gene Subsets.

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