Project description:Early stem cell differentiation programmes are tightly controlled by coordinated pre- and post-transcriptional regulatory networks. In this study, we investigate and characterise miRNA networks responsible for the post-translational gene regulation in early differentiation in both female and male mouse embryonic stem cells. We obtained miRNA-Seq and RNA-Seq profiles of male and female cells from day 0 (D0; 2i) to days 4, 10, 20 and 30. Interestingly, we observed a significant difference in gene expression profiles between females and males, both in terms of identity of regulated genes and of temporal characteristics. Similarly, we observed differences between miRNA species playing significant regulatory roles in female and male cells.
Project description:Early stem cell differentiation programmes are tightly controlled by coordinated pre- and post-transcriptional regulatory networks. In this study, we investigate and characterise miRNA networks responsible for the post-translational gene regulation in early differentiation in both female and male mouse embryonic stem cells. We obtained miRNA-Seq and RNA-Seq profiles of male and female cells from day 0 (D0; 2i) to days 4, 10, 20 and 30. Interestingly, we observed a significant difference in gene expression profiles between females and males, both in terms of identity of regulated genes and of temporal characteristics. Similarly, we observed differences between miRNA species playing significant regulatory roles in female and male cells.
Project description:Pluripotent stem cell lines derived from embryos of different stages have distinct pluripotent ground states, but similar levels of the transcription factor Oct4. Epiblast-derived pluripotent stem cells (EpiSCs), in contrast to embryonic stem (ES) cells, cannot form chimeras. We show that EpiSCs express lower levels of the transcription factors Sox2 and Klf4 than ES cells and have limited reprogramming potential, as shown by cell fusion. Sox2 overexpression dramatically increases the reprogramming potential, chimera formation, and germline contribution of EpiSCs. Therefore, although Oct4 is essential for reprogramming, the level of Sox2 defines both the reprogramming capability and the pluripotent ground states. RNA samples to be analyzed on microarrays were prepared using Qiagen RNeasy columns with on-column DNA digestion. 300 ng of total RNA per sample was used as input into a linear amplification protocol (Ambion), which involved synthesis of T7-linked double-stranded cDNA and 12 hrs of in-vitro transcription incorporating biotin-labelled nucleotides. Purified and labelled cRNA was then hybridized for 18 hrs onto MouseRef-8 v2 expression BeadChips (Illumina) according to the manufacturer's instructions. After washing, as recommended, chips were stained with streptavidin-Cy3 (GE Healthcare) and scanned using the iScan reader (Illumina) and accompanying software. Samples were hybridized as biological replicates. 12 sample types were analyzed, each of them in duplicate. ESCm: Mouse ESC male; ESCf: Mouse ESC OG2 female; F9 EC: F9 EC (mouse embryonic carcinoma cell); F9-Sox2: F9 EC (mouse embryonic carcinoma cell) overexpressing wild type Sox2; EpiSCf: Mouse EpiSC OG2 female; Epi-Sox2f: Mouse EpiSC Sox2 (OG2 female) overexpressing wild type Sox2; P19 EC: P19 EC (mouse embryonic carcinoma cell); P19-Sox2: P19 EC (mouse embryonic carcinoma cell) overexpressing wild type Sox2; EpiSCm: Mouse EpiSC (GOF18 male) (duplicates); EpiSox2mL2: Mouse EpiSC Sox2 (GOF18 male) overexpressing wild type Sox2 cultured in condition EpiSC medium (CM); EpiSox2mE1: Mouse EpiSC Sox2 (GOF18 male) overexpressing wild type Sox2 cultured in ESC medium (ESC like1); EpiSox2mE2: Mouse EpiSC Sox2 (GOF18 male) overexpressing wild type Sox2 cultured in ESC medium (ESC like2).
Project description:Nitrogen is a key factor impacting plant physiological processes and protein abundance. Although many proteins were changed substantially in poplar under N deficiency, the post-translational modifications in male and female poplars are still unclear. Therefore, we selected male and female poplars and analysed the changes of protein phosphorylation in response to N-deficient conditions.
Project description:The requirements for self-renewal differ between EpiSCs and ES cells and the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Here we show that mouse EpiSCs can be efficiently derived and robustly propagated even from single cells, using two small-molecule inhibitors: CHIR99021 and XAV939. The whole-genome microarray analyses is performed to confirm the identity of EpiSC maintained in CHIR/XAV by comparing the expression profile in EpiSC-CHIR/XAV to those in ESC maintained in 2i and EpiSC maintained in FGF2/activin. Total RNA from ESC-2i, EpiSC-CHIR/XAV, and EpiSC-FGF2/activin were extracted for microarray analisys
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In vivo these cells then differentiate into epi stem cells (EpiSC) that can be derived from the Epiblast in presence of Fgf2 and ActivinA. In this study, female ESCs cultured in 2i medium have been differentiated into EpiSC for 3.5 days in vitro by addition of Fgf2 and Activin A. The gene expression profile was analyzed every 4-12 h using mouse exon arrays.
Project description:Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In vivo these cells then differentiate into epi stem cells (EpiSC) that can be derived from the Epiblast in presence of Fgf2 and ActivinA. In this study, female ESCs cultured in 2i medium have been differentiated into EpiSC for 3.5 days in vitro by addition of Fgf2 and Activin A. The gene expression profile was analyzed every 4-12 h using mouse exon arrays. Mouse Pgk12.1 ES cells were differentiated into EpiSC, samples were taken every 4-12 hours for 84 hours in total
Project description:Major complications with in vitro culture of female embryonic stem cells (ESC) have impeded study of sex-specific pluripotency; however, from the published work female pluripotency significantly differs to male. We report a replenishable female ESC system that has enabled us to optimise a protocol for preserving the XX karyotype. Our protocol also improves male ESC fitness. To demonstrate the utility of the system, we screened for regulators of the female-specific process of X chromosome inactivation, revealing a new role for chromatin remodellers Smarcc1 and Smarca4 in establishment of X inactivation. The remodellers create a nucleosome depleted region at gene promotors on the inactive X during exit from pluripotency, without which gene silencing fails. Our female ESC system provides a tractable model for XX ESC culture that will expedite study of female pluripotency and has enabled us to discover new features of the female-specific process of X inactivation. This experiment is designed to test if X chromosome inactivation is altered upon Smarca4 gene knockdown.