TRIM28 and Interacting KRAB-ZNFs Control Self-Renewal of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells through Epigenetic Repression of Pro-differentiation Genes

Urszula Oleksiewicz, Marta Gładych, Ayush T. Raman, Holger Heyn, Elisabetta Mereu, Paula Chlebanowska, Anastazja Andrzejewska, Barbara Sozańska, Neha Samant, Katarzyna Fąk, Paulina Auguścik, Marcin Kosiński, Joanna P. Wróblewska, Katarzyna Tomczak, Katarzyna Kulcenty, Rafał Płoski, Przemysław Biecek, Manel Esteller, Parantu K. Shah, Kunal RaiMaciej Wiznerowicz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are regulated by epigenetic machinery. Tripartite motif protein 28 (TRIM28), a universal mediator of Krüppel-associated box domain zinc fingers (KRAB-ZNFs), is known to regulate both processes; however, the exact mechanism and identity of participating KRAB-ZNF genes remain unknown. Here, using a reporter system, we show that TRIM28/KRAB-ZNFs alter DNA methylation patterns in addition to H3K9me3 to cause stable gene repression during reprogramming. Using several expression datasets, we identified KRAB-ZNFs (ZNF114, ZNF483, ZNF589) in the human genome that maintain pluripotency. Moreover, we identified target genes repressed by these KRAB-ZNFs. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that these KRAB-ZNFs directly alter gene expression of important developmental genes by modulating H3K9me3 and DNA methylation of their promoters. In summary, TRIM28 employs KRAB-ZNFs to evoke epigenetic silencing of its target differentiation genes via H3K9me3 and DNA methylation. Oleksiewicz et al. report that, during somatic cells reprogramming to iPSCs, KRAB-ZNF target genes become stably silenced through H3K9 and DNA methylation. Endogenous KRAB-ZNFs overexpressed in iPSCs, together with TRIM28, were found to participate in the maintenance of pluripotency by targeting and repressing differentiation genes in PSCs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2065-2080
Number of pages16
JournalStem Cell Reports
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 12 2017

Keywords

  • KRAB-ZNF repressors
  • TRIM28
  • differentiation
  • epigenetics
  • induced pluripotent stem cells
  • reprogramming

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'TRIM28 and Interacting KRAB-ZNFs Control Self-Renewal of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells through Epigenetic Repression of Pro-differentiation Genes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this