Obox4 regulates the expression of histone family genes and promotes differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.
Obox genes are preferentially expressed in the ovary, testis and oocyte, and play important roles in many developmental processes. In this study, we report that Obox4 and Obox6 are expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and that Obox4 regulates histone family gene expression in mESCs. Obox4 protein expressing mESCs formed colonies with a flattened and irregular morphology, and exhibited decreased expression levels of self-renewal related proteins, such as Oct4 and Sox2, as well as reduced alkaline phosphatase activity. The results of microarray analysis and siRNA mediated knockdown experiments suggest that Obox4 is an upstream regulator of the histone gene family.
Kim
Hae-Mi
HM
Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, CHA University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ahn
Hee-Jin
HJ
Lee
Hyun-Seo
HS
Lee
Kyung-Ah
KA
Lee
Su-Man
SM
Kim
Hwan-Hee
HH
Kim
Kwang-Soo
KS
Park
Kyung-Soon
KS
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C499222:Obox4 protein, mouse; C499220:Obox6 protein, mouse; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase