DGCR8 is essential for microRNA biogenesis and silencing of embryonic stem cell self-renewal.
The molecular controls that govern the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells remain poorly understood. DGCR8 is an RNA-binding protein that assists the RNase III enzyme Drosha in the processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), a subclass of small RNAs. Here we study the role of miRNAs in ES cell differentiation by generating a Dgcr8 knockout model. Analysis of mouse knockout ES cells shows that DGCR8 is essential for biogenesis of miRNAs. On the induction of differentiation, DGCR8-deficient ES cells do not fully downregulate pluripotency markers and retain the ability to produce ES cell colonies; however, they do express some markers of differentiation. This phenotype differs from that reported for Dicer1 knockout cells, suggesting that Dicer has miRNA-independent roles in ES cell function. Our findings indicate that miRNAs function in the silencing of ES cell self-renewal that normally occurs with the induction of differentiation.
Wang
Yangming
Y
Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
Medvid
Rostislav
R
Melton
Collin
C
Jaenisch
Rudolf
R
Blelloch
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000378:metabolism
C474044:Dgcr8 protein, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C509781:Dicer1 protein, mouse; C513400:Drosha protein, mouse; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases