Project description:Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are specified from epiblast cells in mice. Genes associated with naïve pluripotency are transiently repressed in the transition from inner cell mass (ICM) to epiblast cells, followed by their upregulation soon after PGC specification. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the reactivation of pluripotency genes are poorly characterized. Here, we exploited in vitro differentiation of epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to elucidate the molecular and epigenetic functions of PR domain-containing 14 (PRDM14). We found that Prdm14 overexpression in EpiLCs induced their conversion to ESC-like cells even in the absence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). This was impaired by the loss of Kruppel-like factor 2 (Klf2) and ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins. Furthermore, PRDM14 recruited OCT3/4 to the enhancer regions of naïve pluripotency genes via TET-base excision-repair-mediated demethylation. Our results provide evidence that PRDM14 establishes a transcriptional network for naïve pluripotency via active DNA demethylation.
Project description:Ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytsosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). 5fC/5caC can be excised and repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathway, implicating 5mC oxidation in active DNA demethylation. Genome-wide DNA methylation is erased in the transition from metastable states to ground state of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in migrating primordial germ cells (PGCs), while some resistant regions become demethylated only in gonadal PGCs. Understanding the mechanisms underlying global hypomethylation in naïve ESCs and developing PGCs will be useful for realizing cellular pluripotency and totipotency. In this study, we found that PRDM14, the PR-domain-containing transcriptional regulator, accelerates the TET-BER cycle, resulting in the promotion of active DNA demethylation in ESCs. Induction of PRDM14 expression rapidly removed the 5mC associated with transient elevation of 5hmC at pluripotency-associated genes, germline-specific genes, and imprinted loci but not across the entire genome, which resemble second wave of DNA demethylation in gonadal PGCs. PRDM14 physically interacts with TET1/TET2 and enhances the recruitment of TET1/TET2 at target loci. Knockdown of Tet1/Tet2 impaired transcriptional regulation and DNA demethylation by PRDM14. The repression of the BER pathway by administration of pharmacological inhibitors against APE1 and PARP1 and the knockdown of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) also impaired DNA demethylation by PRDM14. Furthermore, DNA demethylation induced by PRDM14 normally takes place in the presence of aphidicolin, which is an inhibitor of G1/S progression. Together, our analysis provides mechanistic insight into DNA demethylation in naive pluripotent stem cells and developing PGCs. To investigate the function of TET1/TET2 in transcriptional regulation by PRDM14 in ESCs, we exploited microarray analysis using total mRNA derived from Scramble, Scramble + PRDM14, Tet1/Tet2 KD, Tet1/Tet2 KD + PRDM14 mouse ESC.
Project description:The pluripotency-associated transcriptional network is regulated by a core circuitry of transcription factors. The PR domain-containing protein, PRDM14, maintains pluripotency by activating and repressing transcription in a target gene-dependent manner. However, the mechanisms underlying dichotomic switching of PRDM14-mediated transcriptional control remains elusive. Here, we identified C-terminal binding protein 1/2 (CtBP1/2) as components of the PRDM14-mediated repressive complex. CtBP1/2 binding to PRDM14 depends on CBFA2T2, a core component of the PRDM14 complex. The loss of Ctbp1/2 impaired the PRDM14-mediated transcriptional repression required for pluripotency maintenance and primed to naïve pluripotency transition. Furthermore, CtBP1/2 also interacted with the PRC2 complexes, and the loss of Ctbp1/2 impaired the PRC2 and H3K27me3 enrichment at the target genes upon PRDM14 overexpression. These results suggest that evidence that the target gene-dependent transcriptional activity of PRDM14 is regulated by partner switching to ensure transition from primed to naïve pluripotency.
Project description:Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) fluctuate between a naïve inner cell mass (ICM)-like state and a primed epiblast-like state of pluripotency in serum, but are harnessed exclusively in a distinctive, apparently more naïve state of pluripotency (the ground state) with inhibitors for mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 pathways (2i). Understanding the mechanism ensuring a naïve state of pluripotency would be critical in realizing a full potential of ESCs. We show here that PRDM14, a PR domain-containing transcriptional regulator, ensures a naïve pluripotency by a dual mechanism: Antagonizing fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling that is activated paradoxically by the core transcriptional circuitry for pluripotency and directs a primed state and repressing de novo DNA methyltransferases that create a primed epiblast-like epigenome. PRDM14 exerts these functions by recruiting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) specifically to key targets and repressing their expression. Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells (mESCs) or mESC-like cells with different Prdm14 genotypes {Prdm14(+/+), Prdm14(-/-), and Prdm14(-/-) rescued with Avitag-EGFP-Prdm14 transgene [Prdm14(-/-)+AGP14]} are cultured on MEF in different medium [2i, Serum(day 2), Serum+MEK inhibitor (PD0325901) (day 2), Serum without LIF (day2)].
Project description:Ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytsosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). 5fC/5caC can be excised and repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathway, implicating 5mC oxidation in active DNA demethylation. Genome-wide DNA methylation is erased in the transition from metastable states to ground state of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in migrating primordial germ cells (PGCs), while some resistant regions become demethylated only in gonadal PGCs. Understanding the mechanisms underlying global hypomethylation in naïve ESCs and developing PGCs will be useful for realizing cellular pluripotency and totipotency. In this study, we found that PRDM14, the PR-domain-containing transcriptional regulator, accelerates the TET-BER cycle, resulting in the promotion of active DNA demethylation in ESCs. Induction of PRDM14 expression rapidly removed the 5mC associated with transient elevation of 5hmC at pluripotency-associated genes, germline-specific genes, and imprinted loci but not across the entire genome, which resemble second wave of DNA demethylation in gonadal PGCs. PRDM14 physically interacts with TET1/TET2 and enhances the recruitment of TET1/TET2 at target loci. Knockdown of Tet1/Tet2 impaired transcriptional regulation and DNA demethylation by PRDM14. The repression of the BER pathway by administration of pharmacological inhibitors against APE1 and PARP1 and the knockdown of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) also impaired DNA demethylation by PRDM14. Furthermore, DNA demethylation induced by PRDM14 normally takes place in the presence of aphidicolin, which is an inhibitor of G1/S progression. Together, our analysis provides mechanistic insight into DNA demethylation in naive pluripotent stem cells and developing PGCs.
Project description:Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) fluctuate between a naïve inner cell mass (ICM)-like state and a primed epiblast-like state of pluripotency in serum, but are harnessed exclusively in a distinctive, apparently more naïve state of pluripotency (the ground state) with inhibitors for mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 pathways (2i). Understanding the mechanism ensuring a naïve state of pluripotency would be critical in realizing a full potential of ESCs. We show here that PRDM14, a PR domain-containing transcriptional regulator, ensures a naïve pluripotency by a dual mechanism: Antagonizing fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling that is activated paradoxically by the core transcriptional circuitry for pluripotency and directs a primed state and repressing de novo DNA methyltransferases that create a primed epiblast-like epigenome. PRDM14 exerts these functions by recruiting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) specifically to key targets and repressing their expression.
Project description:Global demethylation is part of a conserved program of epigenetic reprogramming to naïve pluripotency. The transition from primed hypermethylated embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to naïve hypomethylated ones (serum-to-2i) is a valuable model system for epigenetic reprogramming. We present a mathematical model, which accurately predicts global DNA demethylation kinetics. Experimentally we show that the main drivers of global demethylation are neither active mechanisms (Aicda, Tdg, Tet1-3) nor the reduction of de novo methylation. UHRF1 protein, the essential targeting factor for DNMT1, is reduced upon transit to 2i and so is recruitment of the maintenance methylation machinery to replication foci. Concurrently there is global loss of H3K9me2, which is needed for chromatin binding of UHRF1. These mechanisms synergistically enforce global DNA hypomethylation in a replication-coupled fashion. Our observations establish the molecular mechanism for global demethylation in naïve ESCs, which has key parallels with those operating in primordial germ cells and early embryos.
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.