title: The germ cell determinant Blimp1 is not required for derivation of pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: Blimp1 (Prdm1), the key determinant of primordial germ cells (PGCs), plays a combinatorial role with Prdm14 during PGC specification from postimplantation epiblast cells. They together initiate epigenetic reprogramming in early germ cells toward an underlying pluripotent state, which is equivalent to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Whereas Prdm14 alone can promote reprogramming and is important for the propagation of the pluripotent state, it is not known whether Blimp1 is similarly involved. By using a genetic approach, we demonstrate that Blimp1 is dispensable for the derivation and maintenance of ESCs and postimplantation epiblast stem cells (epiSCs). Notably, Blimp1 is also dispensable for reprogramming epiSCs to ESCs. Thus, although Blimp1 is obligatory for PGC specification, it is not required for the reversion of epiSCs to ESCs and for their maintenance thereafter. This study suggests that reprogramming, including that of somatic cells to ESCs, may not entail an obligatory route through a Blimp1-positive PGC-like state.
authors: Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK.
authors: Siqin
authors: S
authors: Bao
authors: Harry G
authors: HG
authors: Leitch
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Gillich
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Nichols
authors: Fuchou
authors: F
authors: Tang
authors: Shinseog
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Lee
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Zwaka
authors: Xihe
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: M Azim
authors: MA
authors: Surani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005855:Germ Layers / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C513258:Prdm1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1