title: REST selectively represses a subset of RE1-containing neuronal genes in mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: REST is a transcriptional repressor that targets a group of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. In embryonic stem (ES) cells, REST has been implicated in controlling the expression of transcription factor genes that are crucial for lineage determination and for maintaining ES cell potential. Here, we asked whether REST directly regulates neural-specifying genes in mouse ES cells using siRNA-mediated REST knockdown and ES cells that lack functional REST protein as a result of gene targeting. Loss of REST did not affect the expression of any of ten transcription factor genes known to promote neural commitment and did not affect the expression of several microRNAs, including miR-21, a putative REST target in ES cells. REST-deficient ES cells retained the ability to self-renew and to undergo appropriate differentiation towards mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm lineages upon LIF withdrawal. Genome-wide expression profiling showed that genes that were deregulated in the absence of REST were preferentially expressed in the brain and highly enriched for the presence of canonical REST binding sites (RE1). Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies confirmed these genes as direct targets of REST in ES cells. Collectively, these data show that REST selectively silences a cohort of neuronal genes in ES cells.
authors.affiliation: MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK. helle.jorgensen@csc.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Helle F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: C Filipe
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leleu
authors.forename: Zhou-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merkenschlager
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor; C531950:MIRN21 microRNA, mouse