title: Can controversies be put to REST?
abstract: The contribution of REST to embryonic stem (ES) cell pluripotency has been uncertain. Two years ago, Singh et al. claimed that Rest(+/-) and REST knock-down ES cells expressed reduced levels of pluripotency markers, in contrast to a prior and subsequent reports. To understand the basis of this difference, we analysed the YHC334 (YHC) and RRC160 (RRC) gene-trap ES cell lines used by Singh et al., obtained directly from BayGenomics. Both REST mutant lines generated REST-betaGeo fusion proteins, but expressed pluripotency genes at levels similar to appropriately matched parental wild ES cells, consistent with expression being REST-independent.
authors.affiliation: Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. amanda.fisher@csc.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Helle F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
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