Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Genome-wide Analysis using ChIP to Identify Isoform-specific Gene Targets
11:19

Genome-wide Analysis using ChIP to Identify Isoform-specific Gene Targets

Published on: July 7, 2010

14.6K

PCGF1-PRC1 links chromatin repression with DNA replication during hematopoietic cell lineage commitment

Junichiro Takano1,2,3, Shinsuke Ito2, Yixing Dong2

  • 1Laboratory for Immune Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (RIKEN-IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Nature Communications
|November 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) containing PCGF1 ensures proper DNA replication in hematopoietic stem cells. This maintains correct chromatin structure, gene silencing, and prevents premature myeloid differentiation for lifelong hematopoiesis.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • Polycomb group proteins (PcG) are crucial for maintaining cellular identity by repressing inappropriate genes.
  • Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) is known to localize at replication forks, but its specific function during DNA replication remains unclear.
  • Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) require precise regulation to maintain their differentiation potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the precise functions of PRC1 during DNA replication in HSPCs.
  • To investigate the role of a specific PRC1 variant, PCGF1-PRC1, in regulating chromatin configuration and gene expression.
  • To understand how PCGF1-PRC1 contributes to the maintenance of HSPC differentiation potential.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized molecular biology techniques to study the interaction of PCGF1-PRC1 with nascent DNA during replication.
  • Analyzed chromatin configurations and nucleosome deposition in HSPCs.
  • Investigated gene expression patterns, focusing on PRC2 target genes like Hmga2, and assessed myeloid differentiation markers.

Main Results:

  • Identified a variant PRC1 containing PCGF1 (PCGF1-PRC1) that regulates the deposition of nucleosomes and chromatin structure at the replication fork.
  • Demonstrated that PCGF1-PRC1 prevents the overloading of activators and chromatin remodelers on nascent DNA.
  • Showed that PCGF1-PRC1 facilitates PRC2-mediated repression of genes such as Hmga2, thereby restricting premature myeloid differentiation.

Conclusions:

  • PCGF1-PRC1 plays a critical role in maintaining the fidelity of DNA replication and chromatin organization in HSPCs.
  • This function links proper nucleosome configuration at the replication fork with Polycomb-mediated gene silencing.
  • PCGF1-PRC1 is essential for preserving the differentiation potential of HSPCs, ensuring life-long hematopoiesis.

More Related Videos

Proliferation and Differentiation of Murine Myeloid Precursor 32D/G-CSF-R Cells10:21

Proliferation and Differentiation of Murine Myeloid Precursor 32D/G-CSF-R Cells

Published on: February 21, 2018

10.0K
Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers10:28

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers

Published on: September 20, 2018

6.5K

Related Concept Videos

Lineage Commitment01:21

Lineage Commitment

Commitment is the  process whereby stem cells:
3.0K
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
35.5K
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells01:32

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

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...
1.7K
S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication02:38

S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication

The cell cycle is a series of events leading to DNA duplication followed by the division of cell content to form two daughter cells. The cell cycle progresses in four stages—the cell increases in size (gap 1 or G1-phase), duplicates its DNA (synthesis or S-phase), prepares to divide (gap 2 or G2-phase), and divides (mitosis or M-phase).
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of...
4.8K
Restarting Stalled Replication Forks02:37

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart,...
5.9K
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...
14.2K