Project description:Cbx3 (HP1γ) that is a member of the heterochromatin protein 1 family play important roles in development and differentiation. To determine the regulatroy mechanisms of Cbx3 during neural differentiation from ESCs to NPCs, we performed RNA-seq analysis of ESCs or ESC-derived NPCs depleted for Cbx3 or Cbx3-assocatied Mediator subunit Med26.
Project description:Cbx3 (HP1γ) that is a member of the heterochromatin protein 1 familiy enriched in gene bodies of pluripotent ESCs but promoters of differentiated pre-iPSCs. To determine whether Cbx3 becomes enriched at promoters to influence gene regulation during differentiation, we converted ESCs to NPCs in monolayer culuture and performed genomewide ChIP-seq of Cbx3. Our results shows that Cbx3 enriches at the promoters of genes upon differentiation of ESCs to NPCs and stablizes the binding of Mediator subunit Med26 to pre-initiation complex (PIC) in NPCs.
Project description:The Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase (NuRD) complex plays an important role in gene expression regulation, stem cell self-renewal, and lineage commitment. Yet little is known about the dynamics of NuRD during cellular differentiation. Here, we study these dynamics using genome-wide profiling and quantitative interaction proteomics in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs). The genomic targets of NuRD are highly dynamic during differentiation, with most binding occurring at cell-type specific promoters and enhancers. We identify ZFP296 as a novel, ESC-specific NuRD interactor that also interacts with the SIN3A complex. ChIP-sequencing in Zfp296 knockout (KO) ESCs reveals decreased NuRD binding both genome-wide and at ZFP296 binding sites, although this has little effect on the transcriptome. Nevertheless, Zfp296 KO ESCs exhibit delayed induction of lineage-specific markers upon differentiation to embryoid bodies. In summary, we identify an ESC-specific NuRD interacting protein which regulates genome-wide NuRD binding and cellular differentiation.
Project description:<p>During development of the human brain, multiple cell types with diverse regional identities are generated. Here we report a system to generate early human brain forebrain and mid/hindbrain cell types from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and infer and experimentally confirm a lineage tree for the generation of these types based on single-cell RNA-Seq analysis. We engineered <i>SOX2<sup>Cit/+</sup></i> and <i>DCX<sup>Cit/Y</sup></i> hESC lines to target progenitors and neurons throughout neural differentiation for single-cell transcriptomic profiling, then identified discrete cell types consisting of both rostral (cortical) and caudal (mid/hindbrain) identities. Direct comparison of the cell types were made to primary tissues using gene expression atlases and fetal human brain single-cell gene expression data, and this established that the cell types resembled early human brain cell types, including preplate cells. From the single-cell transcriptomic data a Bayesian algorithm generated a unified lineage tree, and predicted novel regulatory transcription factors. The lineage tree highlighted a prominent bifurcation between cortical and mid/hindbrain cell types, confirmed by clonal analysis experiments. We demonstrated that cell types from either branch could preferentially be generated by manipulation of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. In summary, we present an experimentally validated lineage tree that encompasses multiple brain regions, and our work sheds light on the molecular regulation of region-specific neural lineages during human brain development.</p>
Project description:Appropriate neural initiation of the pluripotent stem cells in the early embryos is critical for the development of the central nervous system. This process is regulated by the coordination of extrinsic signals and intrinsic programs. However, how the coordination is achieved to ensure proper neural fate commitment is largely unknown. Here, taking advantage of genome-wide ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses, we demonstrate that the transcriptional factor Pou3f1 is an upstream activator of neural-promoting genes, and it is able to repress neural-inhibitory signals as well. Further studies revealed that Pou3f1 could directly bind neural lineage genes like Sox2 and downstream targets of neural inhibition signaling such as BMP and Wnt. Our results thus identify Pou3f1 as a critical dual-regulator of the intrinsic transcription factors and the extrinsic cellular signals during neural fate commitment. ChIP-seq assay was ultilized to characterize the targets of Pou3f1 on ESC differentiation day 2.
Project description:The neural fate commitment of pluripotent stem cells requires repression of extrinsic inhibitory signals and activation of intrinsic positive transcription factors. However, it remains elusive how these two events are integrated to ensure appropriate neural conversion. Here, we show that Oct6 functions as an essential positive factor for neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), specifically during the transition from epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) to neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Chimera analysis showed that Oct6 knockdown leads to markedly decreased incorporation of ESC in neuroectoderm. By contrast, Oct6-overexpressing ESC derivatives preferentially contribute to neuroectoderm. Genome-wide ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analyses indicate that Oct6 is an upstream activator of neural lineage genes, and also a repressor of BMP and Wnt signalings. Our results establish Oct6 as a critical regulator that promotes neural commitment of pluripotent stem cells through a dual role: activating internal neural induction programs and antagonizing extrinsic neural inhibitory signals. RNA-seq was performed to examine Oct6 function in ESC neural differentiation at Day2, Day4 and Day6 after dox induction. On Day4 EB, ChIP-seq assay was ultilized to characterize the targets of Oct6.