Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit two unique features that make them potential tools for the development of therapies for degenerative diseases. First, ESCs have the capacity to differentiate into any cell type, a property termed pluripotency. Second, ESCs have the ability to proliferate indefinitely in culture in an undifferentiated state without accumulating genetic or epigenetic alterations, a process called self- renewal. The decision of ESCs to self-renew or differentiate is ultimately controlled by several transcription factors called ESC """"""""master regulators"""""""", along with regulators of chromatin structure. In recent years, the gene targets and functions of the ESC master regulators have become better understood. In contrast, the targets and gene regulatory functions of most chromatin regulators required for ESC self-renewal or pluripotency are unknown. This project aims to understand the functions and mechanisms of action of three chromatin regulatory complexes with crucial functions in ESC self-renewal and pluripotency. The Tip60- p400 complex has lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) and nucleosome remodeling activities, and functions to silence differentiation-induced genes in self-renewing ESCs. This finding was unexpected, given the fact that most KATs function primarily in activation of transcription, and the documented roles of Tip60-p400 complex in gene-activation in somatic cells. We will examine the mechanism by which the Tip60-p400 complex silences differentiation genes in murine ESCs, and determine how this activity is regulated during differentiation. In addition, we recently found that two additional chromatin regulatory complexes, NURD and BAF, oppositely regulate an overlapping set of target genes, which are expressed at moderate levels as a result of this opposition. We will examine the mechanisms underlying this opposition, its importance in the maintenance of the pluripotent state, and its function in ESC differentiation.

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative While ESCs have tremendous potential for the development of new therapies for degenerative diseases, it is currently impossible to robustly differentiate ESCs into many cell types in quantities sufficient for therapies. Therefore, an increased understanding of the factors regulating ESC self-renewal and differentiation should lead to more efficient protocols for their therapeutic differentiation, and should enhance the safety of such protocols. We are examining the functions of such regulatory factors using murine ESCs as a model system, due to their amenability to genetic manipulation. This study should enhance our understanding of the gene regulatory network controlling ESC self-renewal and differentiation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD072122-01A1
Application #
8399699
Study Section
Molecular Genetics A Study Section (MGA)
Program Officer
Ravindranath, Neelakanta
Project Start
2012-08-15
Project End
2017-04-30
Budget Start
2012-08-15
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$344,450
Indirect Cost
$136,950
Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
603847393
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01655
Acharya, Diwash; Hainer, Sarah J; Yoon, Yeonsoo et al. (2017) KAT-Independent Gene Regulation by Tip60 Promotes ESC Self-Renewal but Not Pluripotency. Cell Rep 19:671-679
Wang, Feng; McCannell, Kurtis N; Boškovi?, Ana et al. (2017) Rlim-Dependent and -Independent Pathways for X Chromosome Inactivation in Female ESCs. Cell Rep 21:3691-3699
Ee, Ly-Sha; McCannell, Kurtis N; Tang, Yang et al. (2017) An Embryonic Stem Cell-Specific NuRD Complex Functions through Interaction with WDR5. Stem Cell Reports 8:1488-1496
Fazzio, Thomas G (2016) Regulation of chromatin structure and cell fate by R-loops. Transcription 7:121-6
Hainer, Sarah J; McCannell, Kurtis N; Yu, Jun et al. (2016) DNA methylation directs genomic localization of Mbd2 and Mbd3 in embryonic stem cells. Elife 5:
Chen, Poshen B; Chen, Hsiuyi V; Acharya, Diwash et al. (2015) R loops regulate promoter-proximal chromatin architecture and cellular differentiation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 22:999-1007
Hainer, Sarah J; Fazzio, Thomas G (2015) Regulation of Nucleosome Architecture and Factor Binding Revealed by Nuclease Footprinting of the ESC Genome. Cell Rep 13:61-69
Hainer, Sarah J; Gu, Weifeng; Carone, Benjamin R et al. (2015) Suppression of pervasive noncoding transcription in embryonic stem cells by esBAF. Genes Dev 29:362-78
Chen, Poshen B; Zhu, Lihua J; Hainer, Sarah J et al. (2014) Unbiased chromatin accessibility profiling by RED-seq uncovers unique features of nucleosome variants in vivo. BMC Genomics 15:1104
Carone, Benjamin R; Hung, Jui-Hung; Hainer, Sarah J et al. (2014) High-resolution mapping of chromatin packaging in mouse embryonic stem cells and sperm. Dev Cell 30:11-22

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