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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Structure-function Studies in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using Recombinase-mediated Cassette Exchange
Published on: April 27, 2017
DNMTs and SETDB1 function as co-repressors in MAX-mediated repression of germ cell-related genes in mouse embryonic
Daiki Tatsumi1,2, Yohei Hayashi1,2,3, Mai Endo1,2
1Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
Abstract:
In embryonic stem cells (ESCs), the expression of development-related genes, including germ cell-related genes, is globally repressed. The transcription factor MAX represses germ cell-related gene expression in ESCs via PCGF6-polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), which consists of several epigenetic factors. However, we predicted that MAX represses germ cell-related gene expression through several additional mechanisms because PCGF6-PRC1 regulates the expression of only a subset of genes repressed by MAX. Here, we report that MAX associated with DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 cooperatively control germ cell-related gene expression in ESCs. Both DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation of the promoter regions of several germ cell-related genes were not affected by knockout of the PRC1 components, indicating that the MAX-DNMT and MAX-SETDB1 pathways are independent of the PCGF6-PRC1 pathway. Our findings provide insights into our understanding of MAX-based repressive mechanisms of germ cell-related genes in ESCs.
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