title: Role of the small subunit processome in the maintenance of pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play integral roles in gene regulation, yet only a small fraction of RBPs has been studied in the context of stem cells. Here we applied an RNAi screen for RBPs in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and identified 16 RBPs involved in pluripotency maintenance. Interestingly, six identified RBPs, including Krr1 and Ddx47, are part of a complex called small subunit processome (SSUP) that mediates 18S rRNA biogenesis. The SSUP components are preferentially expressed in stem cells and enhance the global translational rate, which is critical to sustain the protein levels of labile pluripotency factors such as Nanog and Esrrb. Furthermore, the SSUP proteins are required for efficient reprogramming of induced pluripotent stem cells. Our study uncovers the role of the SSUP and the importance of translational control in stem cell fate decision.
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 151-742, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwon Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 151-742, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Joha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 151-742, Korea; School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: V Narry
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins
keywords: RNA-binding protein; SSU processome; embryonic stem cell; pluripotency; ribosome; translational control