Project description:Chromobox homolog 3 (Cbx3/heterochromatin protein 1γ [HP1γ]) stimulates cell differentiation, but its mechanism is unknown. We found that Cbx3 binds to gene promoters upon differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and recruits the Mediator subunit Med26. RNAi knockdown of either Cbx3 or Med26 inhibits neural differentiation while up-regulating genes involved in mesodermal lineage decisions. Thus, Cbx3 and Med26 together ensure the fidelity of lineage specification by enhancing the expression of neural genes and down-regulating genes specific to alternative fates.
Project description:Cbx3 (HP1γ) that is a member of the heterochromatin protein 1 family play important roles in development and differentiation. To determine the regulatroy mechanisms of Cbx3 during neural differentiation from ESCs to NPCs, we performed RNA-seq analysis of ESCs or ESC-derived NPCs depleted for Cbx3 or Cbx3-assocatied Mediator subunit Med26.
Project description:Cbx3 (HP1γ) that is a member of the heterochromatin protein 1 familiy enriched in gene bodies of pluripotent ESCs but promoters of differentiated pre-iPSCs. To determine whether Cbx3 becomes enriched at promoters to influence gene regulation during differentiation, we converted ESCs to NPCs in monolayer culuture and performed genomewide ChIP-seq of Cbx3. Our results shows that Cbx3 enriches at the promoters of genes upon differentiation of ESCs to NPCs and stablizes the binding of Mediator subunit Med26 to pre-initiation complex (PIC) in NPCs.