Oct4 dependence of chromatin structure within the extended Nanog locus in ES cells

• Published in: Genes & development 2008-03, Vol.22 (5), p.575-580
• Main Authors: Levasseur, Dana N, Wang, Jianlong, Dorschner, Michael O, Stamatoyannopoulos, John A, Orkin, Stuart H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; CCCTC-Binding Factor; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell Line; Chromatin - chemistry; Chromatin - metabolism; Chromatin - ultrastructure; Deoxyribonuclease I - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Growth Differentiation Factor 3; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Insulator Elements; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Mice; Nanog Homeobox Protein; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 - genetics; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Research Communication; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.1606308

Embryonic stem (ES) cells offer insight into early developmental fate decisions, and their controlled differentiation may yield vast regenerative potential. The molecular determinants supporting ES cell self-renewal are incompletely understood. The homeodomain proteins Nanog and Oct4 are essential for mouse ES cell self-renewal. Using a high-throughput approach, we discovered DNaseI hypersensitive sites and potential regulatory elements along a 160-kb region of the genome that includes GDF3, Dppa3, and Nanog. We analyzed gene expression, chromatin occupancy, and higher-order chromatin structure throughout this gene locus and found that expression of the reprogramming factor Oct4 is required to maintain its integrity.