Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
10:32
Cell Surface Marker Mediated Purification of iPS Cell Intermediates from a Reprogrammable Mouse Model
Published on: September 6, 2014
15.4K
Zfp322a Regulates mouse ES cell pluripotency and enhances reprogramming efficiency
Hui Ma1, Hui Min Ng1, Xiuwen Teh1
1Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Plos Genetics
|February 20, 2014
Summary
Mouse zinc finger protein 322a (Zfp322a) is essential for maintaining mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) identity. Zfp322a regulates pluripotency genes and suppresses differentiation, acting as a novel reprogramming factor.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular genetics
Background:
- Embryonic stem (ES) cells possess self-renewal and differentiation potential.
- Zinc finger proteins are critical for maintaining ES cell pluripotency.
- The role of mouse zinc finger protein 322a (Zfp322a) in mouse ES cell (mESC) pluripotency is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of Zfp322a in maintaining mESC identity and pluripotency.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which Zfp322a regulates mESC fate.
- To explore Zfp322a's potential as a reprogramming factor.
Main Methods:
- Zfp322a depletion using RNA interference (RNAi).
- Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays.
- ChIP followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) and gene expression profiling.
- Assessment of reprogramming efficiency using Yamanaka's factors.
Main Results:
- Zfp322a depletion induced mESC differentiation, indicating its requirement for cell identity.
- Zfp322a directly binds to and regulates the promoters of pluripotency genes Pou5f1 and Nanog.
- Zfp322a suppresses the MAPK pathway, inhibiting mESC differentiation.
- Zfp322a functions as a novel reprogramming factor, capable of replacing Sox2 in OSKM, and enhances reprogramming efficiency and speed.
Conclusions:
- Zfp322a is a crucial component of the transcription factor network maintaining mESC identity.
- Zfp322a plays a significant role in inhibiting mESC differentiation.
- Zfp322a represents a novel and potent reprogramming factor with potential therapeutic applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
1.4K
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for...
1.4K
01:14Maintenance of the ES Cell State
1.9K
The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
1.9K
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
2.1K
Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012...
2.1K
01:32Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
1.5K
Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
1.5K