{"database":"GEO","file_versions":[{"headers":{"Content-Type":["application/json"]},"body":{"files":{"Other":["ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/series/GSE268nnn/GSE268172/"]},"type":"primary"},"statusCode":"OK","statusCodeValue":200}],"scores":null,"additional":{"omics_type":["Genomics"],"species":["Mus musculus"],"gds_type":["Genome binding/occupancy profiling by high throughput sequencing"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE268172"],"repository":["GEO"],"entry_type":["GSE"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Stable maintenance of MERVL-positive embryonic stem cells reveals sustained transcriptional programs and enhancer remodeling","description":"Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) occasionally transit into a rare two-cell-like (2C) state characterized by transient activation of endogenous retroviruses such as MERVL and expression of 2C-specific genes including the Zscan4 cluster. These 2C-like cells (2CLCs) resemble early blastomeres and display expanded developmental potential, but their unstable and sporadic nature has hindered mechanistic studies. Here, we demonstrate the transiently stable maintenance of MERVL-positive ESCs that exhibit persistent MERVL expression and activation of 2C-associated genes. Live-cell imaging revealed uniform and sustained MERVL activity in these MERVL-positive ESCs, contrasting with the heterogeneous and transient expression observed in conventional ESCs. Transcriptome profiling demonstrated robust induction of 2C-specific regulatory networks, and embryoid body differentiation combined with machine learning uncovered increased lineage variability and altered developmental trajectories. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed clear separation of control ESCs from MERVL-positive populations and redistribution across distinct transcriptional states, with Red and Mosaic lines showing graded shifts within a shared transcriptional manifold. Epigenomic profiling further revealed distinct chromatin states, specialized super-enhancer landscapes, and active enhancer marking at MERVL loci. Together, these findings demonstrate that stable maintenance of MERVL-positive ESCs is achievable in vitro, providing a powerful model to dissect ERV-driven transcriptional regulation, epigenomic remodeling, and 2C-like transcriptional and epigenetic programs.","dates":{"publication":"2026/05/12"},"accession":"GSE268172","cross_references":{"GSM":["GSM8287209","GSM8287208","GSM8287191","GSM8287190","GSM8287210","GSM8287199","GSM8287198","GSM8287231","GSM8287230","GSM8287197","GSM8287196","GSM8287195","GSM8287194","GSM8287193","GSM8287192","GSM8287218","GSM8287217","GSM8287216","GSM8287215","GSM8287214","GSM8287213","GSM8287212","GSM8287211","GSM8287219","GSM8287221","GSM8287188","GSM8287187","GSM8287220","GSM8287207","GSM8287229","GSM8287228","GSM8287206","GSM8287227","GSM8287205","GSM8287204","GSM8287226","GSM8287225","GSM8287203","GSM8287224","GSM8287202","GSM8287201","GSM8287223","GSM8287222","GSM8287189","GSM8287200"],"GPL":["21273"],"GSE":["268172"],"taxon":["Mus musculus"]}}