The ETS Transcription Factor ERF Controls the Exit from the Embryonic Rosette-stage of Pluripotency [RNAseq]
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ABSTRACT: The naïve epiblast undergoes a transition to a pluripotent primed state during embryo implantation. Interestingly, a distinct intermediate stage during the naïve-to-primed transition has been recently described, the rosette stage. We propose the transcriptional repressor ERF as the MAPK-dependent switch that controls the exit from the rosette-stage of pluripotency. By using inducible ESC to genetically eliminate all RAS proteins, we show that, while differentiated RasKO ESC are reminiscent of the pluripotent rosette-stage, the absence of ERF overcomes the developmental blockage of RAS-deficient cells from this intermediate state. RNAseq data revealed that deletion of ERF restored the overall gene expression profile to a wild-type level in differentiated RasKO ESC. Mechanistically, ERF ensures naïve pluripotency by strengthening naïve pluripotent transcription factor binding and accessibility at specific ESC enhancers. Moreover, ERF regulates negatively the expression of the DNMT3 de novo methylases, which are essential for the extinction of the naïve transcriptional program. Our data revealed an essential role for ERF in the exit from rosette pluripotency as a regulator of the progression to primed pluripotency.
Project description:The naïve epiblast undergoes a transition to a pluripotent primed state during embryo implantation. Interestingly, a distinct intermediate stage during the naïve-to-primed transition has been recently described, the rosette stage. We propose the transcriptional repressor ERF as the MAPK-dependent switch that controls the exit from the rosette-stage of pluripotency. By using inducible ESC to genetically eliminate all RAS proteins, we show that, while differentiated RasKO ESC are reminiscent of the pluripotent rosette-stage, the absence of ERF overcomes the developmental blockage of RAS-deficient cells from this intermediate state. RNAseq data revealed that deletion of ERF restored the overall gene expression profile to a wild-type level in differentiated RasKO ESC. Mechanistically, ERF ensures naïve pluripotency by strengthening naïve pluripotent transcription factor binding and accessibility at specific ESC enhancers. Moreover, ERF regulates negatively the expression of the DNMT3 de novo methylases, which are essential for the extinction of the naïve transcriptional program. Our data revealed an essential role for ERF in the exit from rosette pluripotency as a regulator of the progression to primed pluripotency.
Project description:The naïve epiblast undergoes a transition to a pluripotent primed state during embryo implantation. Interestingly, a distinct intermediate stage during the naïve-to-primed transition has been recently described, the rosette stage. We propose the transcriptional repressor ERF as the MAPK-dependent switch that controls the exit from the rosette-stage of pluripotency. By using inducible ESC to genetically eliminate all RAS proteins, we show that, while differentiated RasKO ESC are reminiscent of the pluripotent rosette-stage, the absence of ERF overcomes the developmental blockage of RAS-deficient cells from this intermediate state. RNAseq data revealed that deletion of ERF restored the overall gene expression profile to a wild-type level in differentiated RasKO ESC. Mechanistically, ERF ensures naïve pluripotency by strengthening naïve pluripotent transcription factor binding and accessibility at specific ESC enhancers. Moreover, ERF regulates negatively the expression of the DNMT3 de novo methylases, which are essential for the extinction of the naïve transcriptional program. Our data revealed an essential role for ERF in the exit from rosette pluripotency as a regulator of the progression to primed pluripotency.
Project description:Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) can be captured in vitro in different states, ranging from unrestricted ‘naïve’ to more developmentally constrained ‘primed’ pluripotency. Complexes involved in epigenetic regulation and key transcription factors have been shown to be involved in specifying these distinct states. In this study, we use proteomic profiling of the chromatin landscape in naive pluripotent ESCs, Epistem cells (EpiSCs) and early differentiated ESCs to survey the chromatin in naïve and primed pluripotency and during differentiation. We provide a comprehensive overview of epigenetic complexes situated on the chromatin and identify proteins associated with the maintenance and loss of pluripotency. The findings presented here indicate major compositional alterations of epigenetic complexes starting from ESC priming onwards. Our results contribute to the understanding of ESC differentiation and provide a framework for future studies of lineage commitment of ESCs.
Project description:Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naïve to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for the exit from naïve pluripotency and the progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naïve pluripotency expression program through the decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naïve pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow the reactivation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings uncover a wave of activation-deactivation of Foxd3 as a crucial step for the exit from naïve pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification. Genome-wide binding profiles for Foxd3 were investigated in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). A mESC line (FH-Foxd3 mESC line) expressing exogenous Foxd3 tagged with Flag and HA epitope (FH-Foxd3) at nearly endogenous levels was generated. ChIPs were performed against FH-Foxd3 using anti-HA or anti-Flag antibodies.
Project description:The embryonic stem cell (ESC) transition from naive to primed pluripotency is marked by major changes in cellular properties and developmental potential. ISY1 is implicated in miRNA biogenesis yet its widespread role and relevance to ESC biology remain unknown. Here we find that highly dynamic ISY1 expression during the naïve to primed ESC transition defines a unique phase of ‘poised’ pluripotency characterized by distinct miRNA and mRNA transcriptomes and widespread poised cell contribution to mouse chimeras. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments reveal that ISY1 promotes exit from the naïve state, is necessary and sufficient to induce and maintain poised pluripotency, and that persistent ISY1 overexpression inhibits the transition from the naïve to the primed state. We identify a large subset of ISY1-dependent miRNAs that can rescue the inability of miRNA-deficient ESCs to establish the poised state and transition to the primed state. Thus, dynamic ISY1 regulates poised pluripotency through miRNAs to control ESC fate.
Project description:Upon implantation, the naive pluripotent epiblast of the mouse blastocyst generates a rosette, undergoes lumenogenesis and forms the primed pluripotent egg cylinder, able to generate the embryonic tissues. How pluripotency progression and morphogenesis are linked, and whether intermediate pluripotent states exist remain controversial. We identify here a rosette pluripotent state, defined by co-expression of naive factors with transcription factor OTX2. Downregulation of blastocyst WNT signals drives transition into rosette pluripotency by inducing OTX2. The rosette then activates MEK signals that induce lumenogenesis and drive progression to primed pluripotency. Consequently, combined WNT and MEK inhibition supports rosette-like stem cells (RSCs), a self-renewing naive-primed intermediate. RSCs erase constitutive heterochromatin marks and display a primed chromatin landscape, with bivalently marked primed pluripotency genes. Nonetheless, WNT induces reversion to naive pluripotency. The rosette is therefore a reversible pluripotent intermediate where control over both pluripotency progression and morphogenesis pivots from WNT to MEK signals.
Project description:Naive pluripotent cells in the implanting mouse blastocyst generate a rosette structure before undergoing lumenogenesis to form the egg cylinder. Simultaneously, they acquire primed pluripotency, the ability to differentiate into the primary germ layers. The existence of discrete intermediate pluripotent states during this transition has not been demonstrated. We identify here a distinct rosette pluripotent state, defined by co-expression of naive factors with transcription factor OTX2. Downregulation of WNT signals in the blastocyst drives transition into rosette pluripotency by inducing OTX2. The rosette then activates MEK signals that induce lumenogenesis and drive progression to primed pluripotency. Consequently, combined WNT and MEK inhibition supports rosette-like stem cells (RSCs), a self-renewing naive-primed intermediate. RSCs gain a unique epigenome that includes erasure of constitutive heterochromatin and bivalent marking of primed pluripotency genes. Notwithstanding this primed chromatin landscape, WNT induces reversion to naive pluripotency. The rosette is therefore a reversible pluripotent intermediate where control over pluripotency progression and morphogenesis pivots from WNT to MEK signals.
Project description:Naive pluripotent cells in the implanting mouse blastocyst generate a rosette structure before undergoing lumenogenesis to form the egg cylinder. Simultaneously, they acquire primed pluripotency, the ability to differentiate into the primary germ layers. The existence of discrete intermediate pluripotent states during this transition has not been demonstrated. We identify here a distinct rosette pluripotent state, defined by co-expression of naive factors with transcription factor OTX2. Downregulation of WNT signals in the blastocyst drives transition into rosette pluripotency by inducing OTX2. The rosette then activates MEK signals that induce lumenogenesis and drive progression to primed pluripotency. Consequently, combined WNT and MEK inhibition supports rosette-like stem cells (RSCs), a self-renewing naive-primed intermediate. RSCs gain a unique epigenome that includes erasure of constitutive heterochromatin and bivalent marking of primed pluripotency genes. Notwithstanding this primed chromatin landscape, WNT induces reversion to naive pluripotency. The rosette is therefore a reversible pluripotent intermediate where control over pluripotency progression and morphogenesis pivots from WNT to MEK signals.
Project description:Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naïve to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for the exit from naïve pluripotency and the progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naïve pluripotency expression program through the decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naïve pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow the reactivation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings uncover a wave of activation-deactivation of Foxd3 as a crucial step for the exit from naïve pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification. mRNA profiles were generated by RNA-seq in duplicates for each of the following mESC lines: Foxd3fl/fl;Cre-ER mESC maintained in "Serum+LIF" (SL) treated with TM for three days (SL Foxd3-/-); untreated Foxd3fl/fl;Cre-ER SL mESC (SL Foxd3fl/fl); tetON Foxd3 SL mESC treated with Dox for three days; WT SL mESC treated with Dox for three days; Foxd3fl/fl;Cre-ER mESC maintained in "2i+LIF" (2i) treated with TM for three days (2i Foxd3-/-); untreated Foxd3fl/fl;Cre-ER 2i mESC (2i Foxd3fl/fl).
Project description:Following implantation, mouse epiblast cells transit from a naïve to a primed state in which they are competent for both somatic and primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) as an in vitro model to study the transcriptional regulatory principles orchestrating peri-implantation development, here we show that the transcription factor Foxd3 is necessary for the exit from naïve pluripotency and the progression to a primed pluripotent state. During this transition, Foxd3 acts as a repressor that dismantles a significant fraction of the naïve pluripotency expression program through the decommissioning of active enhancers associated with key naïve pluripotency and early germline genes. Subsequently, Foxd3 needs to be silenced in primed pluripotent cells to allow the reactivation of relevant genes required for proper PGC specification. Our findings uncover a wave of activation-deactivation of Foxd3 as a crucial step for the exit from naïve pluripotency and subsequent PGC specification.