Molecular coupling of Xist regulation and pluripotency

Science. 2008 Sep 19;321(5896):1693-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1160952.

Abstract

During mouse embryogenesis, reversion of imprinted X chromosome inactivation in the pluripotent inner cell mass of the female blastocyst is initiated by the repression of Xist from the paternal X chromosome. Here we report that key factors supporting pluripotency-Nanog, Oct3/4, and Sox2-bind within Xist intron 1 in undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells. Whereas Nanog null ES cells display a reversible and moderate up-regulation of Xist in the absence of any apparent modification of Oct3/4 and Sox2 binding, the drastic release of all three factors from Xist intron 1 triggers rapid ectopic accumulation of Xist RNA. We conclude that the three main genetic factors underlying pluripotency cooperate to repress Xist and thus couple X inactivation reprogramming to the control of pluripotency during embryogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastocyst Inner Cell Mass / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • HMGB Proteins / metabolism*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Introns
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics*
  • RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation
  • X Chromosome / physiology
  • X Chromosome Inactivation*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HMGB Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • Nanog protein, mouse
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • Pou5f1 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Sox2 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • XIST non-coding RNA