Project description:The three-dimensional organization of chromosomes within the nucleus and its dynamics during differentiation are largely unknown. We present a genome-wide analysis of the interactions between chromatin and the nuclear lamina during differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into lineage-committed neural precursor cells (NPCs) and terminally differentiated astrocytes. Chromatin in each of these cell types shows a similar organization into large lamina associated domains (LADs), which represent a transcriptionally repressive environment. During sequential differentiation steps, lamina interactions are progressively modified at hundreds of genomic locations. This remodeling is typically confined to individual transcription units and involves many genes that determine cellular identity. From ESCs to NPCs, the majority of genes that move away from the lamina are concomitantly activated. Strikingly, a significant amount remain inactive yet become primed for activation by further differentiation. These results suggest that lamina-genome interactions are widely involved in the control of gene expression programs during lineage commitment and terminal differentiation. laminB1-chromatin interactions were assayed in 4 different mouse cell-types. For each cell-type there were 2 biological replicates, that were hybridized in a dye-swap design.
Project description:In mammals, the nuclear lamina interacts with hundreds of large genomic regions, termed lamina-associated domains (LADs) that are generally in a transcriptionally repressed state. Lamins form the major structural component of the lamina and have been reported to bind DNA and chromatin. Here we systematically evaluated whether lamins are necessary for the peripheral localization of LADs in murine embryonic stem cells. Surprisingly, removal of essentially all lamins did not have any detectable effect on the genome-wide interaction pattern of chromatin with the inner nuclear membrane. This suggests that other components of the inner nuclear membrane mediate these interactions. 2 samples, each with a biological replicate: wt mESC, B type lamin null (dKO) dKO mESC
Project description:Lipid metabolism is recognized as a key process for stem cell maintenance and differentiation but genetic factors that instruct stem cell function by influencing lipid metabolism remain to be delineated. Here we identify Tnfaip2 as an inhibitor of reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells. Tnfaip2 knockout embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit differentiation failure and knockdown of the planarian orthologue, Smed-exoc3, abrogates in vivo differentiation of somatic stem cells, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration. Tnfaip2 deficient ESCs fail to induce synthesis of cellular triacylglycerol (TAG) and lipid droplets (LD) coinciding with reduced expression of Vimentin (Vim) – a known inducer of LD formation. Knockdown of Vim and Tnfaip2 act epistatically in enhancing cellular reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts. Similarly, planarians devoid of Smed-exoc3 displayed acute loss of TAGs. Supplementation of palmitic acid (PA) and palmitoyl-L-carnitine (a mitochondrial carrier of PA) restores the differentiation capacity of Tnfaip2 deficient ESCs as well as stem cell differentiation and organ maintenance in Smed-exoc3-depleted planarians. Together, these results identify a novel pathway, which is essential for stem cell differentiation and organ maintenance by instructing lipid metabolism.
Project description:Lipid metabolism is recognized as a key process for stem cell maintenance and differentiation but genetic factors that instruct stem cell function by influencing lipid metabolism remain to be delineated. Here we identify Tnfaip2 as an inhibitor of reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells. Tnfaip2 knockout embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit differentiation failure and knockdown of the planarian orthologue, Smed-exoc3, abrogates in vivo differentiation of somatic stem cells, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration. Tnfaip2 deficient ESCs fail to induce synthesis of cellular triacylglycerol (TAG) and lipid droplets (LD) coinciding with reduced expression of Vimentin (Vim) – a known inducer of LD formation. Knockdown of Vim and Tnfaip2 act epistatically in enhancing cellular reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts. Similarly, planarians devoid of Smed-exoc3 displayed acute loss of TAGs. Supplementation of palmitic acid (PA) and palmitoyl-L-carnitine (a mitochondrial carrier of PA) restores the differentiation capacity of Tnfaip2 deficient ESCs as well as stem cell differentiation and organ maintenance in Smed-exoc3-depleted planarians. Together, these results identify a novel pathway, which is essential for stem cell differentiation and organ maintenance by instructing lipid metabolism.