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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
08:01
Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal
Published on: May 30, 2012
Zfp143 regulates Nanog through modulation of Oct4 binding
Xi Chen1, Fang Fang, Yih-Cherng Liou
1Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore.
Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio)
|August 9, 2008
Summary
We discovered Zfp143, a novel regulator crucial for embryonic stem cell (ES cell) self-renewal. Zfp143 maintains pluripotency by directly regulating Nanog expression and interacting with Oct4.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular regulation
Background:
- Embryonic stem cell (ES cell) self-renewal and pluripotency are maintained by complex regulatory networks.
- Identifying novel regulators is key to understanding and manipulating ES cell fate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel regulators of ES cell self-renewal.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which Zfp143 controls pluripotency.
Main Methods:
- RNA interference (RNAi) for Zfp143 depletion.
- Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) to assess DNA binding.
- Reporter assays to measure promoter activity.
- Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) to study protein interactions.
Main Results:
- Zfp143 depletion using RNAi leads to loss of ES cell self-renewal.
- Zfp143 directly binds to the Nanog proximal promoter, regulating its activity.
- Nanog expression is essential for Zfp143's role in maintaining ES cell phenotype.
- Zfp143 physically interacts with Oct4, enhancing Oct4 binding to the Nanog promoter.
Conclusions:
- Zfp143 is a novel and critical regulator of ES cell self-renewal and pluripotency.
- Zfp143 maintains pluripotency by modulating Nanog expression through interaction with Oct4.
- This study reveals a new layer of regulatory circuitry governing ES cell maintenance.
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