Epigenetic regulation of reprogramming factors towards pluripotency in mouse preimplantation development.
OBJECTIVE
Pluripotency is the ability of a cell to give rise to all the tissues of the adult body. During development, both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms are proposed to be involved in the establishment of the pluripotent state in the cells of the epiblast. Here, we review recent findings on the biological function and epigenetic regulation of reprogramming factors with a particular focus on the early mouse embryo.


RESULTS
A number of functional studies have identified a group of transcription factors required for reprogramming during mouse preimplantation development. Among these transcription factors, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog are also crucial for establishment and/or maintenance of pluripotency in vivo. Genome-wide studies with ES cells have highlighted the colocalization of these factors onto ES cell chromatin and the existence of a transcriptional network that might direct pluripotency. Furthermore, recent studies on transcription factor-mediated induced reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells have revealed roles of these transcription factors on reprogramming.


CONCLUSIONS
Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog seem to work at different times of the reprogramming process in vivo. Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of these factors provides not only insights into the reprogramming mechanisms but also in the regulation of mouse preimplantation development.
Miyanari
Yusuke
Y
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch Cedex, France.
Torres-Padilla
Maria-Elena
ME
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D047108:Embryonic Development; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000502:physiology; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C475540:Nanog protein, mouse; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse