Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE30995: An Alternative Splicing Switch Regulates Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Reprogramming [RNA-Seq] GSE31006: An Alternative Splicing Switch Regulates Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Reprogramming [ChIP-Seq] GSE31007: An Alternative Splicing Switch Regulates Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Reprogramming [protein binding microarray] GSE31948: An Alternative Splicing Switch Regulates Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Reprogramming [AS microarray] Refer to individual Series
Project description:Alternative RNA splicing (AS) regulates proteome diversity, including isoform-specific expression of several pluripotency genes. Here, we integrated global gene expression and proteomic analyses and identified a molecular signature suggesting a central role for AS in maintaining human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) self-renewal. We demonstrate the splicing factor SFRS2 is an OCT4 target gene required for pluripotency. SFRS2 regulates AS of the methyl-CpG-binding protein MBD2, whose isoforms play opposing roles in maintenance of, and reprogramming to, pluripotency. While both MDB2a and MBD2c are enriched at the OCT4 and NANOG promoters, MBD2a preferentially interacts with repressive NuRD chromatin remodeling factors and promotes hPSC differentiation, whereas overexpression of MBD2c enhances reprogramming of fibroblasts to pluripotency. The miR-301 and miR-302 families provide additional regulation by targeting SFRS2 and MDB2a. These data suggest that OCT4, SFRS2, and MBD2 participate in a positive feedback loop, regulating proteome diversity complexity in support of hPSC self-renewal and reprogramming. We isolated RNA from human fibroblasts and human embryonic stem cells for hybridization to the Affymetrix gene expression microarrays.
Project description:Alternative splicing (AS) is a key process underlying the expansion of proteomic diversity and the regulation of gene expression. However, the contribution of AS to the control of embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency is not well understood. Here, we identify an evolutionarily conserved ESC-specific AS event that changes the DNA binding preference of the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1. We show that the ESC-specific isoform of FOXP1 stimulates the expression of transcription factor genes required for pluripotency including OCT4, NANOG, NR5A2 and GDF3, while concomitantly repressing genes required for ESC differentiation. Remarkably, this isoform also promotes the maintenance of ESC pluripotency and the efficient reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. These results reveal an AS switch that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of pluripotency through the control of critical ESC-specific transcriptional programs. Protein binding microarray (PBM) experiments were performed for two isoforms of the DNA binding domain of the human FOXP1 gene. Briefly, the PBMs involved binding GST-tagged DNA-binding proteins to two double-stranded 4*44K Agilent microarrays, each containing a different DeBruijn sequence design, in order to determine their sequence preferences. The method is described in Berger et al., Nature Biotechnology 2006.
Project description:Alternative splicing (AS) is a key process underlying the expansion of proteomic diversity and the regulation of gene expression. However, the contribution of AS to the control of embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency is not well understood. Here, we identify an evolutionarily conserved ESC-specific AS event that changes the DNA binding preference of the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1. We show that the ESC-specific isoform of FOXP1 stimulates the expression of transcription factor genes required for pluripotency including OCT4, NANOG, NR5A2 and GDF3, while concomitantly repressing genes required for ESC differentiation. Remarkably, this isoform also promotes the maintenance of ESC pluripotency and the efficient reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. These results reveal an AS switch that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of pluripotency through the control of critical ESC-specific transcriptional programs. In order to identify AS events that potentially control stem cell pluripotency, we used microarray profiling to compare patterns of AS in undifferentiated and differentiated H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).
Project description:Previous investigations of the core gene regulatory circuitry that controls embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency have largely focused on the roles of transcription, chromatin and non- coding RNA regulators. Alternative splicing (AS) represents a widely acting mode of gene regulation, yet its role in the regulation of ESC pluripotency and differentiation is poorly understood. Here, we identify the Muscleblind-like RNA binding proteins, MBNL1 and MBNL2, as conserved and direct negative regulators of a large program of AS events that are differentially regulated between ESCs and other cell types. Knockdown of MBNL proteins in differentiated cells causes switching to an ESC-like AS pattern for at least half of these AS events. Among the events is an ESC-specific AS switch in the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1 that controls pluripotency. Consistent with a central and negative regulatory role for MBNL proteins in pluripotency, their knockdown significantly enhances the expression of key pluripotency genes and the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during somatic cell reprogramming. mRNA profiles of various embryonic stem cells, tissues and cell lines from human and mouse using high-throughput sequencing data and the role of MBNL proteins in regulation of ESC-differential alternative splicing
Project description:Previous investigations of the core gene regulatory circuitry that controls embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency have largely focused on the roles of transcription, chromatin and non- coding RNA regulators. Alternative splicing (AS) represents a widely acting mode of gene regulation, yet its role in the regulation of ESC pluripotency and differentiation is poorly understood. Here, we identify the Muscleblind-like RNA binding proteins, MBNL1 and MBNL2, as conserved and direct negative regulators of a large program of AS events that are differentially regulated between ESCs and other cell types. Knockdown of MBNL proteins in differentiated cells causes switching to an ESC-like AS pattern for at least half of these AS events. Among the events is an ESC-specific AS switch in the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1 that controls pluripotency. Consistent with a central and negative regulatory role for MBNL proteins in pluripotency, their knockdown significantly enhances the expression of key pluripotency genes and the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during somatic cell reprogramming. mRNA profiles of various embryonic stem cells, tissues and cell lines from human and mouse using high-throughput sequencing data and the role of MBNL proteins in regulation of ESC-differential alternative splicing