2. Academic Validation
  3. An alternative splicing switch regulates embryonic stem cell pluripotency and reprogramming

An alternative splicing switch regulates embryonic stem cell pluripotency and reprogramming

  • Cell. 2011 Sep 30;147(1):132-46. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.08.023.
Mathieu Gabut 1,  Payman Samavarchi-Tehrani,  Xinchen Wang,  Valentina Slobodeniuc,  Dave O'Hanlon,  Hoon-Ki Sung,  Manuel Alvarez,  Shaheynoor Talukder,  Qun Pan,  Esteban O Mazzoni,  Stephane Nedelec,  Hynek Wichterle,  Knut Woltjen,  Timothy R Hughes,  Peter W Zandstra,  Andras Nagy,  Jeffrey L Wrana,  Benjamin J Blencowe
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada.
PMID: 21924763 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.08.023
Abstract

Alternative splicing (AS) is a key process underlying the expansion of proteomic diversity and the regulation of gene expression. Here, we identify an evolutionarily conserved embryonic stem cell (ESC)-specific AS event that changes the DNA-binding preference of the forkhead family transcription factor FOXP1. We show that the ESC-specific isoform of FOXP1 stimulates the expression of transcription factor genes required for pluripotency, including OCT4, NANOG, NR5A2, and GDF3, while concomitantly repressing genes required for ESC differentiation. This isoform also promotes the maintenance of ESC pluripotency and contributes to efficient reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. These results reveal a pivotal role for an AS event in the regulation of pluripotency through the control of critical ESC-specific transcriptional programs.

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