Project description:Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation is governed by a comprehensive regulatory network. Although the transcriptional regulation has been extensively investigated, post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling the ESC state are poorly understood. Here we describe a critical role of the THO complex in ESC self-renewal and differentiation. We show that THO preferentially interacts with pluripotency gene transcripts through Thoc5, and is required for self-renewal by regulating their export and expression. During differentiation, THO loses its interaction with those transcripts due to reduced Thoc5 expression, which leads to decreased expression of pluripotency proteins and facilitates differentiation. Finally, THO is also important for the establishment of pluripotency, as its depletion inhibits somatic cell reprogramming and blastocyst development. Together, our data indicates that THO regulates pluripotency gene mRNA export to control ESC self-renewal and differentiation, and uncovers a novel mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation in stem cell fate specification. RNA IP was conducted by use of antibody against Thoc2, the precipitated RNA was used to generate library using illumina Kit, and subsequently sequenced by miSeq
Project description:Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation are governed by a broad-ranging regulatory network. Although the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms involved have been investigated extensively, post-transcriptional regulation is still poorly understood. Here we describe a critical role of the THO complex in ESC self-renewal and differentiation. We show that THO preferentially interacts with pluripotency gene transcripts through Thoc5, and is required for self-renewal at least in part by regulating their export and expression. During differentiation, THO loses its interaction with those transcripts due to reduced Thoc5 expression, leading to decreased expression of pluripotency proteins that facilitates exit from self-renewal. THO is also important for the establishment of pluripotency, as its depletion inhibits somatic cell reprogramming and blastocyst development. Together, our data indicate that THO regulates pluripotency gene mRNA export to control ESC self-renewal and differentiation, and therefore uncover a role for this aspect of post-transcriptional regulation in stem cell fate specification. mouse J1 cells were transfected with non-targeting (NT), Thoc2, and Thoc5 siRNAs. Total RNA was isolated 96 hours after transfection.
Project description:Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation is governed by a comprehensive regulatory network. Although the transcriptional regulation has been extensively investigated, post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling the ESC state are poorly understood. Here we describe a critical role of the THO complex in ESC self-renewal and differentiation. We show that THO preferentially interacts with pluripotency gene transcripts through Thoc5, and is required for self-renewal by regulating their export and expression. During differentiation, THO loses its interaction with those transcripts due to reduced Thoc5 expression, which leads to decreased expression of pluripotency proteins and facilitates differentiation. Finally, THO is also important for the establishment of pluripotency, as its depletion inhibits somatic cell reprogramming and blastocyst development. Together, our data indicates that THO regulates pluripotency gene mRNA export to control ESC self-renewal and differentiation, and uncovers a novel mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation in stem cell fate specification.
Project description:Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation are governed by a broad-ranging regulatory network. Although the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms involved have been investigated extensively, post-transcriptional regulation is still poorly understood. Here we describe a critical role of the THO complex in ESC self-renewal and differentiation. We show that THO preferentially interacts with pluripotency gene transcripts through Thoc5, and is required for self-renewal at least in part by regulating their export and expression. During differentiation, THO loses its interaction with those transcripts due to reduced Thoc5 expression, leading to decreased expression of pluripotency proteins that facilitates exit from self-renewal. THO is also important for the establishment of pluripotency, as its depletion inhibits somatic cell reprogramming and blastocyst development. Together, our data indicate that THO regulates pluripotency gene mRNA export to control ESC self-renewal and differentiation, and therefore uncover a role for this aspect of post-transcriptional regulation in stem cell fate specification.
Project description:Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and pluripotency is controlled by the coordinated action of transcription factors and chromatin regulators. Compared to the pluripotency transcription factors, the function of the chromatin regulators, especially the ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers, remains poorly understood in ESCs. Here, we show that INO80, a SWI/SNF family chromatin remodeling complex, is essential for ESC self-renewal, pluripotency, somatic cell reprogramming, and embryonic development. Ino80, the ATPase of the complex, forms an auto-regulatory loop with the ESC master transcription factors Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2. More importantly, it co-occupies the enhancer regions of most key pluripotency genes with the master transcription factors, and positively regulates their expression by maintaining an open chromatin structure. Our data suggests that INO80 is an integral component of the pluripotency transcription network, and plays a critical role in both the maintenance and establishment of pluripotency Identification of Ino80 localization in mouse embryonic stem cells
Project description:The cell-type-specific function of transcription factors (TFs) is crucial for determining several cellular identities. It is unclear how a single TF can function specifically in different cell types. Here, we define the molecular features that enable OCT4 to reprogram somatic cells into pluripotent or trophoblast stem cells, maintain the self-renewal of embryonic stem (ES) cells, and drive lineage commitment during early embryonic development. Embedded within the intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of OCT4, we uncover short linear peptides that are essential for reprogramming (SLiPERs) but dispensable for ES self-renewal. SLiPERs adopt a quasi-ordered state and, during reprogramming, recruit a unique set of proteins to closed chromatin that are unnecessary for ES self-renewal. Interestingly, SLiPERs are not required during early gastrulation but are essential for embryos to develop beyond late gastrulation. Removing SLiPERs leads to aberrant OCT4 binding, derailing the regular transition of ES cells out of pluripotency. Our findings identify modules within IDRs that contribute to the functional versatility and specificity of TFs.
Project description:Orphan nuclear receptor Esrrb is vital in maintaining ES cells and like Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog is essential for self-renewal and pluripotency. Esrrb functions in somatic cells via LBD/AF-2-dependent coactivator recruitment to target genes. Here we show that in ES cells coactivator recruitment is similarly required and identify Ncoa3 as the Esrrb coactivator needed for activation of its target genes. Ncoa3 is essential for self-renewal and the induction of pluripotency in reprogramming, and genome-wide analysis of Ncoa3 binding reveals extensive overlap with Esrrb and pluripotency factors along with marks of active genes. Mechanistically, we show Ncoa3 is specifically required to bridge RNApol2 to Esrrb. We thus identify a new member of the ES pluripotency network and describe Esrrb and Ncoa3 as key factors linking core pluripotency factors to the general transcription machinery. ChIP experiments were carried out with chromatin prepared from E14 cells as previously described (Stock et al., 2007), using 8-10 ug primary antibody for NcoA3 and 600 ug pre-cleared chromatin per IP. Antibody for NcoA3 was from Santacruz (sc-9119) .
Project description:Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and pluripotency is controlled by the coordinated action of transcription factors and chromatin regulators. Compared to the pluripotency transcription factors, the function of the chromatin regulators, especially the ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers, remains poorly understood in ESCs. Here, we show that INO80, a SWI/SNF family chromatin remodeling complex, is essential for ESC self-renewal, pluripotency, somatic cell reprogramming, and embryonic development. Ino80, the ATPase of the complex, forms an auto-regulatory loop with the ESC master transcription factors Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2. More importantly, it co-occupies the enhancer regions of most key pluripotency genes with the master transcription factors, and positively regulates their expression by maintaining an open chromatin structure. Our data suggests that INO80 is an integral component of the pluripotency transcription network, and plays a critical role in both the maintenance and establishment of pluripotency