Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
The scaffolding function of LSD1 controls DNA methylation in mouse ESCs.
Sandhya Malla1,2, Kanchan Kumari1,2, Carlos A García-Prieto3,4
1Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) is crucial for mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) growth and differentiation, but not self-renewal. LSD1 controls DNA methylation stability independently of its demethylase activity.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) removes methyl groups from histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1/2).
- LSD1 is vital for embryonic development, but its role in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of LSD1 in mouse ESC self-renewal, growth, and differentiation.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which LSD1 regulates DNA methylation in ESCs.
Main Methods:
- Generation of Lsd1 knockout (KO) mouse ESCs.
- Reintroduction of catalytically active and impaired LSD1 (LSD1MUT).
- Analysis of DNA methylation, DNMT1, UHRF1, HDAC1, and USP7 protein levels and interactions.
Main Results:
- LSD1 is dispensable for ESC self-renewal but essential for growth and differentiation.
- Increased H3K4me1 in Lsd1 KO ESCs did not alter stemness gene expression.
- LSD1 ablation, unlike LSD1MUT, caused global hypomethylation due to decreased DNMT1 and UHRF1 protein stability.
Conclusions:
- LSD1 controls DNA methylation in mouse ESCs through a mechanism independent of its demethylase activity.
- LSD1, in conjunction with HDAC1 and USP7, regulates DNMT1 and UHRF1 protein stability, impacting DNA methylation maintenance.
More Related Videos
10:09Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark
Published on: January 26, 2018
11:53An Alternative Culture Method to Maintain Genomic Hypomethylation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using MEK Inhibitor PD0325901 and Vitamin C
Published on: June 1, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Chromatin Modification in 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...
Maintenance of the ES Cell State
Epigenetic Regulation
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
Writers
The writer...
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming