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DPPA2, DPPA4, and other DPPA factor epigenomic functions in cell fate and cancer

Rachel Herndon Klein1, Paul S Knoepfler1

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Institute of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Stem Cell Reports
|November 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

DPPA2 and DPPA4 factors are crucial for maintaining developmental competency and chromatin regulation in stem cells. Their roles extend to cancer, highlighting their importance in pluripotency and differentiation transitions.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Gene networks in pluripotent stem cells and cancer share common factors, including DPPA2 and DPPA4.
  • DPPA2 and DPPA4 are highly expressed in stem cells and reactivated in cancer.
  • Previous studies showed DPPA2/DPPA4 knockout caused developmental defects, not affecting pluripotency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the functions of DPPA2 and DPPA4 in chromatin regulation and cell reprogramming.
  • To understand the role of DPPA2 and DPPA4 at the pluripotency-differentiation boundary.
  • To explore the relevance of DPPA2/DPPA4 functions in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Recent research has elucidated the roles of DPPA2 and DPPA4.
  • Studies involved chromatin priming and regulation of histone modifications (H3K4me3, H3K27me3).
  • Chromatin remodeling and induced pluripotency reprogramming were investigated.

Main Results:

  • DPPA2 and DPPA4 regulate H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 at bivalent chromatin domains.
  • These factors are involved in chromatin remodeling and somatic cell reprogramming.
  • DPPA2 and DPPA4 play a key role in maintaining developmental competency.

Conclusions:

  • DPPA2 and DPPA4 are critical regulators at the transition between pluripotency and differentiation.
  • Their functions in stem cells may be relevant to their roles in cancer.
  • These factors are important for chromatin dynamics and developmental potential.
Keywords:
DPPA2DPPA4EpigeneticsGenomicsPluripotencyTranscriptionZygotic Gene Activationcancer stem cells

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