title: Myc binds the pluripotency factor Utf1 through the basic-helix-loop-helix leucine zipper domain.
abstract: In order to elucidate the function of Myc in the maintenance of pluripotency and self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), we screened for novel ESC-specific interactors of Myc by mass spectrometry. Undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor 1 (Utf1) was identified in the screen as a putative Myc binding protein in mESCs. We found that Myc and Utf1 directly interact. Utf1 is a chromatin-associated factor required for maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal in mESCs. It can also replace c-myc during induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation with relatively high efficiency, and shares target genes with Myc in mESCs highlighting a potentially redundant functional role between Myc and Utf1. A large region of Utf1 was found to be necessary for direct interaction with N-Myc, while the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper domain of N-Myc is necessary for direct interaction with Utf1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Agnieszka I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Laskowski
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Knoepfler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D016350:Leucine Zippers / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; C489428:Myc protein, mouse; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D015534:Trans-Activators; C112198:Utf1 protein, mouse