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Max is a repressor of germ cell-related gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells

Author

Listed:
  • Ikuma Maeda

    (Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University)

  • Daiji Okamura

    (Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University
    Present addresses: Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA (D.O.); Department of Environmental Preventive Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan (N.M.))

  • Yuko Tokitake

    (Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University)

  • Makiko Ikeda

    (Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University)

  • Hiroko Kawaguchi

    (Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University)

  • Nathan Mise

    (Mammalian Cellular Dynamics, RIKEN BioResource Center
    Present addresses: Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA (D.O.); Department of Environmental Preventive Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan (N.M.))

  • Kuniya Abe

    (Mammalian Cellular Dynamics, RIKEN BioResource Center)

  • Toshiaki Noce

    (School of Medicine, Keio University)

  • Akihiko Okuda

    (Research Center for Genomic Medicine, Saitama Medical University)

  • Yasuhisa Matsui

    (Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University)

Abstract

Embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cells (PGCs) express many pluripotency-associated genes, but embryonic stem cells do not normally undergo conversion into primordial germ cells. Thus, we predicted that there is a mechanism that represses primordial germ cell-related gene expression in embryonic stem cells. Here we identify genes involved in this putative mechanism, by using an embryonic stem cell line with a Vasa reporter in an RNA interference screen of transcription factor genes expressed in embryonic stem cells. We identify five genes that result in the expression of Vasa when silenced. Of these, Max is the most striking. Transcriptome analysis reveals that Max knockdown in embryonic stem cells 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 embryonic stem cells. In addition, Max knockdown results in a decrease in histone H3K9 dimethylation at their promoter regions. We propose that Max is part of protein complex that acts as a repressor of germ cell-related genes in embryonic stem cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Ikuma Maeda & Daiji Okamura & Yuko Tokitake & Makiko Ikeda & Hiroko Kawaguchi & Nathan Mise & Kuniya Abe & Toshiaki Noce & Akihiko Okuda & Yasuhisa Matsui, 2013. "Max is a repressor of germ cell-related gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2780
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2780
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