DAZL regulates Tet1 translation in murine embryonic stem cells

• Published in: EMBO reports Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 791 - 802
• Main Authors: Welling, Maaike, Chen, Hsu-Hsin, Muñoz, Javier, Musheev, Michael U, Kester, Lennart, Junker, Jan Philipp, Mischerikow, Nikolai, Arbab, Mandana, Kuijk, Ewart, Silberstein, Lev, Kharchenko, Peter V, Geens, Mieke, Niehrs, Christof, van de Velde, Hilde, van Oudenaarden, Alexander, Heck, Albert JR, Geijsen, Niels
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2015; Nature Publishing Group UK; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
• Subjects: 2i conditions; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cellular Reprogramming; Cytosine - metabolism; Dazl; DNA hydroxymethylation; DNA Methylation; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; EMBO39; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Germ Layers - physiology; Mice; Molecular biology; Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells - physiology; naïve pluripotency; Pluripotent Stem Cells - physiology; Protein Biosynthesis; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Scientific Report; Scientific Reports; Stem cells; TET1; Transcriptome; DNA hydroxymethylation; TET1; naïve pluripotency; 2i conditions; Dazl
• ISSN: 1469-221X; 1469-3178
• DOI: 10.15252/embr.201540538

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) cultures display a heterogeneous gene expression profile, ranging from a pristine naïve pluripotent state to a primed epiblast state. Addition of inhibitors of GSK3β and MEK (so‐called 2i conditions) pushes ESC cultures toward a more homogeneous naïve pluripotent state, but the molecular underpinnings of this naïve transition are not completely understood. Here, we demonstrate that DAZL, an RNA‐binding protein known to play a key role in germ‐cell development, marks a subpopulation of ESCs that is actively transitioning toward naïve pluripotency. Moreover, DAZL plays an essential role in the active reprogramming of cytosine methylation. We demonstrate that DAZL associates with mRNA of Tet1, a catalyst of 5‐hydroxylation of methyl‐cytosine, and enhances Tet1 mRNA translation. Overexpression of DAZL in heterogeneous ESC cultures results in elevated TET1 protein levels as well as increased global hydroxymethylation. Conversely, null mutation of Dazl severely stunts 2i‐mediated TET1 induction and hydroxymethylation. Our results provide insight into the regulation of the acquisition of naïve pluripotency and demonstrate that DAZL enhances TET1‐mediated cytosine hydroxymethylation in ESCs that are actively reprogramming to a pluripotent ground state. Synopsis This study reports that by enhancing Tet1 mRNA translation, the RNA‐binding protein DAZL regulates TET1‐mediated cytosine hydroxymethylation in ESCs during active reprogramming to a pluripotent ground state. DAZL marks ESCs actively transitioning to a naïve pluripotent state. DAZL enhances Tet1 mRNA translation. DAZL overexpression results in increased hydroxymethylation. Graphical Abstract This study reports that by enhancing Tet1 mRNA translation, the RNA‐binding protein DAZL regulates TET1‐mediated cytosine hydroxymethylation in ESCs during active reprogramming to a pluripotent ground state.