| First Author | Stirparo GG | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 118 |
| Issue | 3 | PubMed ID | 33452132 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:300763 | Mgi Id | MGI:6502734 |
| Doi | 10.1073/pnas.2008890118 | Citation | Stirparo GG, et al. (2021) OCT4 induces embryonic pluripotency via STAT3 signaling and metabolic mechanisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 118(3):e2008890118 |
| abstractText | OCT4 is a fundamental component of the molecular circuitry governing pluripotency in vivo and in vitro. To determine how OCT4 establishes and protects the pluripotent lineage in the embryo, we used comparative single-cell transcriptomics and quantitative immunofluorescence on control and OCT4 null blastocyst inner cell masses at two developmental stages. Surprisingly, activation of most pluripotency-associated transcription factors in the early mouse embryo occurs independently of OCT4, with the exception of the JAK/STAT signaling machinery. Concurrently, OCT4 null inner cell masses ectopically activate a subset of trophectoderm-associated genes. Inspection of metabolic pathways implicates the regulation of rate-limiting glycolytic enzymes by OCT4, consistent with a role in sustaining glycolysis. Furthermore, up-regulation of the lysosomal pathway was specifically detected in OCT4 null embryos. This finding implicates a requirement for OCT4 in the production of normal trophectoderm. Collectively, our findings uncover regulation of cellular metabolism and biophysical properties as mechanisms by which OCT4 instructs pluripotency. |
