Max is a repressor of germ-cell-related gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells
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ABSTRACT: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and primordial germ cells (PGCs) express many pluripotency-associated genes, but ESCs do not normally undergo conversion into PGCs. Thus, we predicted that there is a mechanism that represses PGC-related gene expression in ESCs. Here we identify genes involved in this putative mechanism, by using an ESC line with a Vasa reporter for an RNAi screen of transcription factor genes expressed in ESCs. We identify 5 genes that result in the expression of Vasa when silenced. Of these, Max is the most striking. Transcriptome analysis reveals that Max knockdown (KD) in ESCs results in selective, global derepression of germ-cell-specific genes. Max interacts with histone H3K9 methyltransferases and associates with the germ-cell-specific genes in ESCs. In addition, Max-KD results in a decrease in histone H3K9 dimethylation at their promoter regions. We propose that Max is part of a protein complex that acts as a repressor of germ-cell-related genes in ESCs.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE45181 | GEO | 2013/05/01
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA193155
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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