title: ECAT11/L1td1 is enriched in ESCs and rapidly activated during iPSC generation, but it is dispensable for the maintenance and induction of pluripotency.
abstract: The principal factors that lead to proliferation and pluripotency in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have been vigorously investigated. However, the global network of factors and their full signaling cascade is still unclear. In this study, we found that ECAT11 (L1td1) is one of the ESC-associated transcripts harboring a truncated fragment of ORF-1, a component of the L1 retrotransposable element. We generated an ECAT11 knock-in mouse by replacing its coding region with green fluorescent protein. In the early stage of development, the fluorescence was observed at the inner cell mass of blastocysts and epiblasts. Despite this specific expression, ECAT11-null mice grow normally and are fertile. In addition, ECAT11 was dispensable for both the proliferation and pluripotency of ESCs.We found rapid and robust activation of ECAT11 in fibroblasts after the forced expression of transcription factors that can give rise pluripotency in somatic cells. However, iPS cells could be established from ECAT11-null fibroblasts. Our data demonstrate the dispensability of ECAT11/L1td1 in pluripotency, despite its specific expression.
authors.affiliation: Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumiko A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Iwabuchi
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichisaka
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C561286:ECAT11 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins