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Nie R, Zheng C, Ren L, Teng Y, Sun Y, Wang L, Li J, Cai J. Mitigating Cell Cycle Effects in Multi-Omics Data: Solutions and Analytical Frameworks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025:e05823. [PMID: 40434003 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202505823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2025] [Revised: 04/30/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025]
Abstract
Cell cycle structures vary significantly across cell types, which exhibit distinct phase compositions. Asynchronous DNA replication and dynamic cellular characteristics during the cell cycle result in considerable heterogeneity in DNA dosage, chromatin accessibility, methylation, and expression. Nonetheless, the consequences of cell cycle disruption in the interpretation of multi-omics data remain unclear. Here, we systematically assessed the influence of distinct cell phase structures on the interpretation of omics features in proliferating cells, and proposed solutions for each omics dataset. For copy number variation (CNV) calling, asynchronous replication timing (RT) interference induces false CNVs in cells with high S-phase ratio (SPR), which are significantly decreased following replication timing domain (RTD) correction. Similar noise is observed in the chromatin accessibility data. Moreover, for DNA methylation and transcriptomic analyses, cell cycle-sorted data outperformed direct comparison in elucidating the biological features of compared cells. Additionally, we established an integrated pipeline to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after cell cycle phasing. Consequently, our study demonstrated extensive cell-cycle heterogeneity, warranting consideration in future studies involving cells with diverse cell-cycle structures. RTD correction or phase-specific comparison could reduce the influence of cell cycle composition on the analysis of the differences observed between stem and differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Nie
- Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Caihong Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Bovine Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Likun Ren
- Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yue Teng
- Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yaoyu Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lifei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Junya Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Bovine Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jun Cai
- Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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2
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Leeke BJ, Staffhorst I, Percharde M. Emerging roles for the nucleolus in development and stem cells. Development 2025; 152:dev204696. [PMID: 40366093 DOI: 10.1242/dev.204696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2025]
Abstract
The nucleolus is a membrane-less subnuclear compartment known for its role in ribosome biogenesis. However, emerging evidence suggests that nucleolar function extends beyond ribosome production and is particularly important during mammalian development. Nucleoli are dynamically reprogrammed post-fertilisation: totipotent early mouse embryos display non-canonical, immature nucleolar precursor bodies, and their remodelling to mature nucleoli is essential for the totipotency-to-pluripotency transition. Mounting evidence also links nucleolar disruption to various pathologies, including embryonic lethality in mouse mutants for nucleolar factors, human developmental disorders and observations of nucleolar changes in disease states. As well as its role in ribogenesis, new findings point to the nucleolus as an essential regulator of genome organisation and heterochromatin formation. This Review summarises the varied roles of nucleoli in development, primarily in mammals, highlighting the importance of nucleolar chromatin for genome regulation, and introduces new techniques for exploring nucleolar function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryony J Leeke
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London W12 0HS, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Imke Staffhorst
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London W12 0HS, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Michelle Percharde
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London W12 0HS, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
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3
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Hua L, Peng Y, Yan L, Yuan P, Qiao J. Moving toward totipotency: the molecular and cellular features of totipotent and naive pluripotent stem cells. Hum Reprod Update 2025:dmaf006. [PMID: 40299455 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaf006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dissecting the key molecular mechanism of embryonic development provides novel insights into embryogenesis and potential intervention strategies for clinical practices. However, the ability to study the molecular mechanisms of early embryo development in humans, such as zygotic genome activation and lineage segregation, is meaningfully constrained by methodological limitations and ethical concerns. Totipotent stem cells have an extended developmental potential to differentiate into embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, providing a suitable model for studying early embryo development. Recently, a series of ground-breaking results on stem cells have identified totipotent-like cells or induced pluripotent stem cells into totipotent-like cells. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review followed the PRISMA guidelines, surveys the current works of literature on totipotent, naive, and formative pluripotent stem cells, introduces the molecular and biological characteristics of those stem cells, and gives advice for future research. SEARCH METHODS The search method employed the terms 'totipotent' OR 'naive pluripotent stem cell' OR 'formative pluripotent stem cell' for unfiltered search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Papers included were those with information on totipotent stem cells, naive pluripotent stem cells, or formative pluripotent stem cells until June 2024 and were published in the English language. Articles that have no relevance to stem cells, or totipotent, naive pluripotent, or formative pluripotent cells were excluded. OUTCOMES There were 152 records included in this review. These publications were divided into four groups according to the species of the cells included in the studies: 67 human stem cell studies, 70 mouse stem cell studies, 9 porcine stem cell studies, and 6 cynomolgus stem cell studies. Naive pluripotent stem cell models have been established in other species such as porcine and cynomolgus. Human and mouse totipotent stem cells, e.g. human 8-cell-like cells, human totipotent blastomere-like cells, and mouse 2-cell-like cells, have been successfully established and exhibit high developmental potency for both embryonic and extraembryonic contributions. However, the observed discrepancies between these cells and real embryos in terms of epigenetics and transcription suggest that further research is warranted. Our results systematically reviewed the established methods, molecular characteristics, and developmental potency of different naive, formative pluripotent, and totipotent stem cells. Furthermore, we provide a parallel comparison between animal and human models, and offer recommendations for future applications to advance early embryo research and assisted reproduction technologies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Totipotent cell models provide a valuable resource to understand the underlying mechanisms of embryo development and forge new paths toward future treatment of infertility and regenerative medicine. However, current in vitro cell models exhibit epigenetic and transcriptional differences from in vivo embryos, and many cell models are unstable across passages, thus imperfectly recapitulating embryonic development. In this regard, standardizing and expanding current research on totipotent stem cell models are essential to enhance our capability to resemble and decipher embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyue Hua
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyang Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Beijing, China
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4
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Cai W, Huang L, Wu X, Zhang H, Fang Z, Liu XM. Totipotent-like reprogramming: Molecular machineries and chemical manipulations. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2025; 1872:119925. [PMID: 39993607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2025.119925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2025] [Accepted: 02/15/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit remarkable pluripotency, possessing the dual abilities of self-renewal and differentiation into any cell type within the embryonic lineage. Among cultivated mouse ESCs, a subpopulation known as 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs) displays a transcriptomic signature reminiscent of the 2-cell embryonic stage, with the capacity to differentiate into both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. These 2CLCs have served as an invaluable totipotent-like cell model for deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the establishment of totipotency. Accumulating evidence has indicated that a multitude of regulators including transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, and RNA regulators, exert crucial functions in the reprogramming of ESCs towards 2CLCs. In addition to 2CLCs, alternative totipotent-like cell types can be induced and maintained through the administration of single or combined chemical supplements, offering promising cell resources for regenerative medicine. In this review, we summarize the current advancements in the molecular regulations of 2CLCs and chemical manipulations of totipotent-like cells in mice, providing a foundation for understanding the regulatory networks underlying cell totipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanting Cai
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Lingci Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Xinwei Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Haotian Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Zhuoning Fang
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Min Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
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5
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Zou X, He Y, Zhao Z, Li J, Qu H, Liu Z, Chen P, Ji J, Zhao H, Shu D, Luo C. Single-cell RNA-seq offer new insights into the cell fate decision of the primordial germ cells. Int J Biol Macromol 2025; 293:139136. [PMID: 39740725 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 12/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/02/2025]
Abstract
The faithful production of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vitro opens a wide range of novel applications in reproductive biology and medicine. However, the reproducibility of PGCs culture conditions across different laboratories or breeds remains a challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to research the molecular dynamics that lead to the gradual establishment of cultured PGCs lines network. Here, the results of single-cell RNA-seq indicated that the cell cycle drove cellular heterogeneity. The active populations engaged in PGC self-renewal and the characteristics of the aging cell fate have been identified. The active self-renewal populations presented a rising expression of DNA repair genes, couple with a high proportion of cells in G1/S phase and a low frequency of cells in G2 phase. Notably, Hippo, FoxO, AMPK and MAPK pathways are active within these populations. The combination of six activator or inhibitors, targeting these active pathways, resulted in a significantly higher proliferation rate of PGCs and an increased number of cells entering the G1 and S phases. Importantly, they greatly reduced the establishment time to a minimum of 26 days and increased the efficiency of male PGC line establishment to 59 % in FS medium. Our results provided several new insights into the PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yanhua He
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- Agro-Biological Gene Research Center, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hao Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zijing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Peng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jian Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Haoyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Dingming Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Chenglong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition & Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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6
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Jia S, Wen X, Zhu M, Fu X. The pluripotent-to-totipotent state transition in mESCs activates the intrinsic apoptotic pathway through DUX-induced DNA replication stress. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:440. [PMID: 39460804 PMCID: PMC11512989 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05465-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024]
Abstract
The pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cell (mESCs) can transit into the totipotent-like state, and the transcription factor DUX is one of the master regulators of this transition. Intriguingly, this transition in mESCs is accompanied by massive cell death, which significantly impedes the establishment and maintenance of totipotent cells in vitro, yet the underlying mechanisms of this cell death remain largely elusive. In this study, we found that the totipotency transition in mESCs triggered cell death through the upregulation of DUX. Specifically, R-loops are accumulated upon DUX induction, which subsequently lead to DNA replication stress (RS) in mESCs. This RS further activates p53 and PMAIP1, ultimately leading to Caspase-9/7-dependent intrinsic apoptosis. Notably, inhibiting this intrinsic apoptosis not only mitigates cell death but also enhances the efficiency of the totipotency transition in mESCs. Our findings thus elucidate one of the mechanisms underlying cell apoptosis during the totipotency transition in mESCs and provide a strategy for optimizing the establishment and maintenance of totipotent cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunze Jia
- First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Liangzhu Laboratory of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinpeng Wen
- First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Liangzhu Laboratory of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minwei Zhu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Liangzhu Laboratory of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xudong Fu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Liangzhu Laboratory of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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7
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Jia YK, Yu Y, Guan L. Advances in understanding the regulation of pluripotency fate transition in embryonic stem cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1494398. [PMID: 39479513 PMCID: PMC11521825 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1494398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 11/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) sourced from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, are akin to this tissue in function but lack the capacity to form all extraembryonic structures. mESCs are transient cell populations that express high levels of transcripts characteristic of 2-cell (2C) embryos and are identified as "2-cell-like cells" (2CLCs). Previous studies have shown that 2CLCs can contribute to both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues upon reintroduction into early embryos. Approximately 1% of mESCs dynamically transition from pluripotent mESCs into 2CLCs. Nevertheless, the scarcity of mammalian embryos presents a significant challenge to the molecular characterization of totipotent cells. To date, Previous studies have explored various methods for reprogramming pluripotent cells into totipotent cells. While there is a good understanding of the molecular regulatory network maintaining ES pluripotency, the process by which pluripotent ESCs reprogram into totipotent cells and the associated molecular mechanisms of totipotent regulation remain poorly understood. This review synthesizes recent insights into the regulatory pathways of ESC reprogramming into 2CLC, exploring molecular mechanisms modulated by transcriptional regulators, small molecules, and epigenetic changes. The objective is to construct a theoretical framework for the field of researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong kang Jia
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Guan
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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8
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Du Z, Lin M, Li Q, Guo D, Xue Y, Liu W, Shi H, Chen T, Dan J. The totipotent 2C-like state safeguards genomic stability of mouse embryonic stem cells. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31337. [PMID: 38860420 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) sporadically transition to a transient totipotent state that resembles blastomeres of the two-cell (2C) embryo stage, which has been proposed to contribute to exceptional genomic stability, one of the key features of mESCs. However, the biological significance of the rare population of 2C-like cells (2CLCs) in ESC cultures remains to be tested. Here we generated an inducible reporter cell system for specific elimination of 2CLCs from the ESC cultures to disrupt the equilibrium between ESCs and 2CLCs. We show that removing 2CLCs from the ESC cultures leads to dramatic accumulation of DNA damage, genomic mutations, and rearrangements, indicating impaired genomic instability. Furthermore, 2CLCs removal results in increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation of mESCs in both serum/LIF and 2i/LIF culture conditions. Unexpectedly, p53 deficiency results in defective response to DNA damage, leading to early accumulation of DNA damage, micronuclei, indicative of genomic instability, cell apoptosis, and reduced self-renewal capacity of ESCs when devoid of 2CLCs in cultures. Together, our data reveal that transition to the privileged 2C-like state is a major component of the intrinsic mechanisms that maintain the exceptional genomic stability of mESCs for long-term self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeling Du
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Meiqi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Qiaohua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Dan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Yanna Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Taiping Chen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Programs in Genetics and Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jiameng Dan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
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9
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Gao C, Gao X, Gao F, Du X, Wu S. A CRISPR/Cas9 screen in embryonic stem cells reveals that Mdm2 regulates totipotency exit. Commun Biol 2024; 7:809. [PMID: 38961268 PMCID: PMC11222520 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06507-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
During early embryonic development, the transition from totipotency to pluripotency is a fundamental and critical process for proper development. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing this transition remain elusive. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen to investigate the 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs) phenotype in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). This effort led to the identification of ten regulators that play a pivotal role in determining cell fate during this transition. Notably, our study revealed Mdm2 as a significant negative regulator of 2CLCs, as perturbation of Mdm2 resulted in a higher proportion of 2CLCs. Mdm2 appears to influence cell fate through its impact on cell cycle progression and H3K27me3 epigenetic modifications. In summary, the results of our CRISPR/Cas9 screen have uncovered several genes with distinct functions in regulating totipotency and pluripotency at various levels, offering a valuable resource for potential targets in future molecular studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, 572025, China
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, 572025, China
| | - Xuguang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, 572025, China.
| | - Sen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, 572025, China.
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10
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Wu B, Wang Y, Wei X, Zhang J, Wu J, Cao G, Zhang Y, Liu J, Li X, Bao S. NELFA and BCL2 induce the 2C-like state in mouse embryonic stem cells in a chemically defined medium. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13534. [PMID: 37592709 PMCID: PMC10849787 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A minority of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) display totipotent features resembling 2-cell stage embryos and are known as 2-cell-like (2C-like) cells. However, how ESCs transit into this 2C-like state remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the overexpression of negative elongation factor A (Nelfa), a maternally provided factor, enhances the conversion of ESCs into 2C-like cells in chemically defined conditions, while the deletion of endogenous Nelfa does not block this transition. We also demonstrate that Nelfa overexpression significantly enhances somatic cell reprogramming efficiency. Interestingly, we found that the co-overexpression of Nelfa and Bcl2 robustly activates the 2C-like state in ESCs and endows the cells with dual cell fate potential. We further demonstrate that Bcl2 overexpression upregulates endogenous Nelfa expression and can induce the 2C-like state in ESCs even in the absence of Nelfa. Our findings highlight the importance of BCL2 in the regulation of the 2C-like state and provide insights into the mechanism underlying the roles of Nelfa and Bcl2 in the establishment and regulation of the totipotent state in mouse ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baojiang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland LivestockInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Research Centre for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Yanqiu Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland LivestockInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Research Centre for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Xinhua Wei
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland LivestockInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Research Centre for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Jingcheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary MedicineNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Jiahui Wu
- School of Veterinary MedicineInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Guifang Cao
- School of Veterinary MedicineInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Inner Mongolia Saikexing Institute of Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology in Domestic AnimalHohhotChina
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary MedicineNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary MedicineNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Xihe Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland LivestockInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Research Centre for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Inner Mongolia Saikexing Institute of Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology in Domestic AnimalHohhotChina
| | - Siqin Bao
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland LivestockInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
- Research Centre for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, College of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
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11
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Lu X. Regulation of endogenous retroviruses in murine embryonic stem cells and early embryos. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 15:mjad052. [PMID: 37604781 PMCID: PMC10794949 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are important components of transposable elements that constitute ∼40% of the mouse genome. ERVs exhibit dynamic expression patterns during early embryonic development and are engaged in numerous biological processes. Therefore, ERV expression must be closely monitored in cells. Most studies have focused on the regulation of ERV expression in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and during early embryonic development. This review touches on the classification, expression, and functions of ERVs in mouse ESCs and early embryos and mainly discusses ERV modulation strategies from the perspectives of transcription, epigenetic modification, nucleosome/chromatin assembly, and post-transcriptional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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12
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Mwalilino L, Yamane M, Ishiguro KI, Usuki S, Endoh M, Niwa H. The role of Zfp352 in the regulation of transient expression of 2-cell specific genes in mouse embryonic stem cells. Genes Cells 2023; 28:831-844. [PMID: 37778747 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Mouse ES cell populations contain a minor sub-population that expresses genes specifically expressed in 2-cell stage embryos. This sub-population consists of 2-cell-gene labeled cells (2CLCs) generated by the transient activation of the 2-cell specific genes initiated by the master regulator, Dux. However, the mechanism regulating the transient expression remains largely unclear. Here we reported a novel function of Zfp352, one of the 2-cell specific genes, in regulating the 2CLC sub-population. Zfp352 encodes zinc-finger transcription factor belonging to the Klf family. Dux transiently activates Zfp352 after the activation of Zscan4c in a subset of the 2CLC subpopulation. Interestingly, in the reporter assay, the transcriptional activation of Zscan4c by Dux is strongly repressed by the co-expression of Zfp352. However, the knockout of Zfp352 resulted in the repression of a subset of the 2-cell-specific genes. These data suggest the dual roles of Zfp352 in regulating the transient activation of the 2-cell-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lusubilo Mwalilino
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Mariko Yamane
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Functional Genome Informatics, Division of Medical Genomics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory for Bioinformatics Research, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Endoh
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Niwa
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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13
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Sung S, Kim E, Niida H, Kim C, Lee J. Distinct characteristics of two types of alternative lengthening of telomeres in mouse embryonic stem cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9122-9143. [PMID: 37496110 PMCID: PMC10516625 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length must be maintained in actively dividing cells to avoid cellular arrest or death. In the absence of telomerase activity, activation of alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) allows the maintenance of telomeric length and prolongs the cellular lifespan. Our previous studies have established two types of ALT survivors from mouse embryonic stem cells. The key differences between these ALT survivors are telomere-constituting sequences: non-telomeric sequences and canonical telomeric repeats, with each type of ALT survivors being referred to as type I and type II, respectively. We explored how the characteristics of the two types of ALT lines reflect their fates using multi-omics approaches. The most notable gene expression signatures of type I and type II ALT cell lines were chromatin remodelling and DNA repair, respectively. Compared with type II cells, type I ALT cells accumulated more mutations and demonstrated persistent telomere instability. These findings indicate that cells of the same origin have separate routes for survival, thus providing insights into the plasticity of crisis-suffering cells and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghyun Sung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Eunkyeong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hiroyuki Niida
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - Chuna Kim
- Aging Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Gwahak-ro 125, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Department of Bioinformatics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Junho Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Seoul 08826, Korea
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14
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Canat A, Atilla D, Torres‐Padilla M. Hyperosmotic stress induces 2-cell-like cells through ROS and ATR signaling. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56194. [PMID: 37432066 PMCID: PMC10481651 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) display pluripotency features characteristic of the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. Mouse embryonic stem cell cultures are highly heterogeneous and include a rare population of cells, which recapitulate characteristics of the 2-cell embryo, referred to as 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs). Whether and how ESC and 2CLC respond to environmental cues has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigate the impact of mechanical stress on the reprogramming of ESC to 2CLC. We show that hyperosmotic stress induces 2CLC and that this induction can occur even after a recovery time from hyperosmotic stress, suggesting a memory response. Hyperosmotic stress in ESCs leads to accumulation of reactive-oxygen species (ROS) and ATR checkpoint activation. Importantly, preventing either elevated ROS levels or ATR activation impairs hyperosmotic-mediated 2CLC induction. We further show that ROS generation and the ATR checkpoint act within the same molecular pathway in response to hyperosmotic stress to induce 2CLCs. Altogether, these results shed light on the response of ESC to mechanical stress and on our understanding of 2CLC reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Canat
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES)Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenMünchenGermany
| | - Derya Atilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES)Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenMünchenGermany
| | - Maria‐Elena Torres‐Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES)Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenMünchenGermany
- Faculty of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians UniversitätMünchenGermany
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15
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Nakatani T, Torres-Padilla ME. Regulation of mammalian totipotency: a molecular perspective from in vivo and in vitro studies. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102083. [PMID: 37421903 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, cells acquire totipotency at fertilization. Embryonic genome activation (EGA), which occurs at the 2-cell stage in the mouse and 4- to 8-cell stage in humans, occurs during the time window at which embryonic cells are totipotent and thus it is thought that EGA is mechanistically linked to the foundations of totipotency. The molecular mechanisms that lead to the establishment of totipotency and EGA had been elusive for a long time, however, recent advances have been achieved with the establishment of new cell lines with greater developmental potential and the application of novel low-input high-throughput techniques in embryos. These have unveiled several principles of totipotency related to its epigenetic makeup but also to characteristic features of totipotent cells. In this review, we summarize and discuss current views exploring some of the key drivers of totipotency from both in vitro cell culture models and embryogenesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsunetoshi Nakatani
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 München, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany.
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16
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Xu H, Liang H. The regulation of totipotency transcription: Perspective from in vitro and in vivo totipotency. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1024093. [PMID: 36393839 PMCID: PMC9643643 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1024093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Totipotency represents the highest developmental potency. By definition, totipotent stem cells are capable of giving rise to all embryonic and extraembryonic cell types. In mammalian embryos, totipotency occurs around the zygotic genome activation period, which is around the 2-cell stage in mouse embryo or the 4-to 8-cell stage in human embryo. Currently, with the development of in vitro totipotent-like models and the advances in small-scale genomic methods, an in-depth mechanistic understanding of the totipotency state and regulation was enabled. In this review, we explored and summarized the current views about totipotency from various angles, including genetic and epigenetic aspects. This will hopefully formulate a panoramic view of totipotency from the available research works until now. It can also help delineate the scaffold and formulate new hypotheses on totipotency for future research works.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hongqing Liang
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women’s Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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17
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Wen X, Lin Z, Wu H, Cao L, Fu X. Zfp281 Inhibits the Pluripotent-to-Totipotent State Transition in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:879428. [PMID: 35669510 PMCID: PMC9163740 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.879428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell-fate transition between pluripotent and totipotent states determines embryonic development and the first cell-lineage segregation. However, limited by the scarcity of totipotent embryos, regulators on this transition remain largely elusive. A novel model to study the transition has been recently established, named the 2-cell-like (2C-like) model. The 2C-like cells are rare totipotent-like cells in the mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) culture. Pluripotent mESCs can spontaneously transit into and out of the 2C-like state. We previously dissected the transcriptional roadmap of the transition. In this study, we revealed that Zfp281 is a novel regulator for the pluripotent-to-totipotent transition in mESCs. Zfp281 is a transcriptional factor involved in the cell-fate transition. Our study shows that Zfp281 represses transcripts upregulated during the 2C-like transition via Tet1 and consequentially inhibits mESCs from transiting into the 2C-like state. Interestingly, we found that the inhibitory effect of Zfp281 on the 2C-like transition leads to an impaired 2C-like-transition ability in primed-state mESCs. Altogether, our study reveals a novel mediator for the pluripotent-to-totipotent state transition in mESCs and provides insights into the dynamic transcriptional control of the transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinpeng Wen
- Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zesong Lin
- Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems and Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems and Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lanrui Cao
- Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xudong Fu
- Center of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems and Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Hematology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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18
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Nakatani T, Lin J, Ji F, Ettinger A, Pontabry J, Tokoro M, Altamirano-Pacheco L, Fiorentino J, Mahammadov E, Hatano Y, Van Rechem C, Chakraborty D, Ruiz-Morales ER, Arguello Pascualli PY, Scialdone A, Yamagata K, Whetstine JR, Sadreyev RI, Torres-Padilla ME. DNA replication fork speed underlies cell fate changes and promotes reprogramming. Nat Genet 2022; 54:318-327. [PMID: 35256805 PMCID: PMC8920892 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01023-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Totipotency emerges in early embryogenesis, but its molecular underpinnings remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we employed DNA fiber analysis to investigate how pluripotent stem cells are reprogrammed into totipotent-like 2-cell-like cells (2CLCs). We show that totipotent cells of the early mouse embryo have slow DNA replication fork speed and that 2CLCs recapitulate this feature, suggesting that fork speed underlies the transition to a totipotent-like state. 2CLCs emerge concomitant with DNA replication and display changes in replication timing (RT), particularly during the early S-phase. RT changes occur prior to 2CLC emergence, suggesting that RT may predispose to gene expression changes and consequent reprogramming of cell fate. Slowing down replication fork speed experimentally induces 2CLCs. In vivo, slowing fork speed improves the reprogramming efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer. Our data suggest that fork speed regulates cellular plasticity and that remodeling of replication features leads to changes in cell fate and reprogramming. Totipotent cells in mouse embryos and 2-cell-like cells have slow DNA replication fork speed. Perturbations that slow replication fork speed promote 2-cell-like cell emergence and improve somatic cell nuclear transfer reprogramming and formation of induced pluripotent stem cell colonies.
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