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OCT4 induces embryonic pluripotency via STAT3 signaling and metabolic mechanisms.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Stirparo, Giuliano G  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5911-8682
Strawbridge, Stanley E 

Abstract

OCT4 is a fundamental component of the molecular circuitry governing pluripotency in vivo and in vitro. To determine how OCT4 establishes and protects the pluripotent lineage in the embryo, we used comparative single-cell transcriptomics and quantitative immunofluorescence on control and OCT4 null blastocyst inner cell masses at two developmental stages. Surprisingly, activation of most pluripotency-associated transcription factors in the early mouse embryo occurs independently of OCT4, with the exception of the JAK/STAT signaling machinery. Concurrently, OCT4 null inner cell masses ectopically activate a subset of trophectoderm-associated genes. Inspection of metabolic pathways implicates the regulation of rate-limiting glycolytic enzymes by OCT4, consistent with a role in sustaining glycolysis. Furthermore, up-regulation of the lysosomal pathway was specifically detected in OCT4 null embryos. This finding implicates a requirement for OCT4 in the production of normal trophectoderm. Collectively, our findings uncover regulation of cellular metabolism and biophysical properties as mechanisms by which OCT4 instructs pluripotency.

Description

Keywords

OCT4, STAT3 pathway, developmental biology, metabolism, single-cell profiling, Animals, Blastocyst Inner Cell Mass, Cell Lineage, Embryo, Mammalian, Embryonic Development, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Glycolysis, Mice, Octamer Transcription Factor-3, Pluripotent Stem Cells, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Signal Transduction, Single-Cell Analysis

Journal Title

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0027-8424
1091-6490

Volume Title

118

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M004023/1)
Wellcome Trust (101861/Z/13/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/R017735/1)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/R018588/1)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/P003575/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17230)
This work was supported by the University of Cambridge, BBSRC project grant RG74277, BB/R018588/1 and MR/R017735/1 to HS and LB respectively, MRC PhD studentship for AK and a core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute.
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