Project description:Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naïve to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for the exit from naïve pluripotency and the progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naïve pluripotency expression program through the decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naïve pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow the reactivation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings uncover a wave of activation-deactivation of Foxd3 as a crucial step for the exit from naïve pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification. Genome-wide binding profiles for Foxd3 were investigated in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). A mESC line (FH-Foxd3 mESC line) expressing exogenous Foxd3 tagged with Flag and HA epitope (FH-Foxd3) at nearly endogenous levels was generated. ChIPs were performed against FH-Foxd3 using anti-HA or anti-Flag antibodies.
Project description:Despite the requirement of Sin3a for survival of early embryos and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mechanistic action of Sin3a in the maintenance and establishment of pluripotency remains unexplored. Here we report the transcriptional regulatory roles of Sin3a in maintaining ESC pluripotency and in reprogramming somatic cells towards full pluripotency. Sin3a/HDAC complex members were enriched in an extended Nanog interactome and exhibited a predominant transcriptional co-activator role at a global level in ESCs. We also established a critical role for Sin3a in efficient reprogramming of somatic cells towards full pluripotency. Nanog and Sin3a co-localize at almost all of their genome-wide targets in pre-iPSCs, and both factors are required to directly induce a synergistic transcriptional program wherein pluripotency genes are activated and reprogramming barrier genes are repressed. Our results, for the first time, establish positive roles of the Sin3a/HDAC complex in the maintenance and establishment of pluripotency.
Project description:Despite the requirement of Sin3a for survival of early embryos and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mechanistic action of Sin3a in the maintenance and establishment of pluripotency remains unexplored. Here we report the transcriptional regulatory roles of Sin3a in maintaining ESC pluripotency and in reprogramming somatic cells towards full pluripotency. Sin3a/HDAC complex members were enriched in an extended Nanog interactome and exhibited a predominant transcriptional co-activator role at a global level in ESCs. We also established a critical role for Sin3a in efficient reprogramming of somatic cells towards full pluripotency. Nanog and Sin3a co-localize at almost all of their genome-wide targets in pre-iPSCs, and both factors are required to directly induce a synergistic transcriptional program wherein pluripotency genes are activated and reprogramming barrier genes are repressed. Our results, for the first time, establish positive roles of the Sin3a/HDAC complex in the maintenance and establishment of pluripotency.
Project description:Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naïve to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for the exit from naïve pluripotency and the progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naïve pluripotency expression program through the decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naïve pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow the reactivation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings uncover a wave of activation-deactivation of Foxd3 as a crucial step for the exit from naïve pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification.
Project description:Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naïve to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for the exit from naïve pluripotency and the progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naïve pluripotency expression program through the decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naïve pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow the reactivation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings uncover a wave of activation-deactivation of Foxd3 as a crucial step for the exit from naïve pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification.