title: Oct4/Sox2-regulated miR-302 targets cyclin D1 in human embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Oct4 and Sox2 are transcription factors required for pluripotency during early embryogenesis and for the maintenance of embryonic stem cell (ESC) identity. Functional mechanisms contributing to pluripotency are expected to be associated with genes transcriptionally activated by these factors. Here, we show that Oct4 and Sox2 bind to a conserved promoter region of miR-302, a cluster of eight microRNAs expressed specifically in ESCs and pluripotent cells. The expression of miR-302a is dependent on Oct4/Sox2 in human ESCs (hESCs), and miR-302a is expressed at the same developmental stages and in the same tissues as Oct4 during embryogenesis. miR-302a is predicted to target many cell cycle regulators, and the expression of miR-302a in primary and transformed cell lines promotes an increase in S-phase and a decrease in G(1)-phase cells, reminiscent of an ESC-like cell cycle profile. Correspondingly, the inhibition of miR-302 causes hESCs to accumulate in G(1) phase. Moreover, we show that miR-302a represses the productive translation of an important G(1) regulator, cyclin D1, in hESCs. The transcriptional activation of miR-302 and the translational repression of its targets, such as cyclin D1, may provide a link between Oct4/Sox2 and cell cycle regulation in pluripotent cells.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors: Deborah A Greer
authors: DA
authors: Card
authors: Pratibha B
authors: PB
authors: Hebbar
authors: Leping
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Kevin W
authors: KW
authors: Trotter
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Komatsu
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Mishina
authors: Trevor K
authors: TK
authors: Archer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016193:G1 Phase; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D024002:HMGB Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C532169:MIRN302A microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019938:Cyclin D1; C495900:CDK4 protein, human; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4