Repository logo
 

Sox2 modulation increases naïve pluripotency plasticity.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Tremble, Kathryn C 
Stirparo, Giuliano G 
Bates, Lawrence E 
Maskalenka, Katsiaryna 
Stuart, Hannah T 

Abstract

Induced pluripotency provides a tool to explore mechanisms underlying establishment, maintenance, and differentiation of naive pluripotent stem cells (nPSCs). Here, we report that self-renewal of nPSCs requires minimal Sox2 expression (Sox2-low). Sox2-low nPSCs do not show impaired neuroectoderm specification and differentiate efficiently in vitro into all embryonic germ lineages. Strikingly, upon the removal of self-renewing cues Sox2-low nPSCs differentiate into both embryonic and extraembryonic cell fates in vitro and in vivo. This differs from previous studies which only identified conditions that allowed cells to differentiate to one fate or the other. At the single-cell level self-renewing Sox2-low nPSCs exhibit a naive molecular signature. However, they display a nearer trophoblast identity than controls and decreased ability of Oct4 to bind naïve-associated regulatory sequences. In sum, this work defines wild-type levels of Sox2 as a restrictor of developmental potential and suggests perturbation of naive network as a mechanism to increase cell plasticity.

Description

Keywords

Biological Sciences, Cell Biology, Stem Cells Research

Journal Title

iScience

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2589-0042
2589-0042

Volume Title

24

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (101861/Z/13/Z)
European Research Council (639050)
Medical Research Council (MR/R017735/1)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/R018588/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17230)
We thank Yael Costa for critical reading of the manuscript. Peter Humphreys for assistance with imaging. William Mansfield for blastocyst injections. This study was supported by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship (WT101861) to J.C.R.S. B.K.K is supported by a European Research Council grant (639050). K.M. is a recipient of a Darwin Trust of Edinburgh Ph.D. studentship. K.T. is a recipient of a MRC Ph.D. studentship. H.T.S. and L.E.B. were supported by BBSRC and MRC research grants, BB/R018588/1 and MR/R017735/1 respectively. G.G.S. is funded by BBSRC research grant RG53615.