Role in Inducing and Maintaining the Pluripotency of Mice...

Several members of the zinc finger family of proteins are key components in the transcriptional network maintaining pluripotency in embryonic stem cells. The mouse zinc finger protein 322a (Zfp322a) is expressed in embryonic stem cells and the ICM. Thus Ma et al. 2014 hypothesized that Zfp322a functions as a transcription factor in mice. Ma et al. (2014) discovered that Zfp322a is an irreplaceable transcription factor which enhances the reprogramming ability of OKSM (Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and c-Myc) and can replace Sox2 in OKSM in the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). First, in order to determine whether or not Zfp322a is a transcription factor in mice, the authors analyzed its expression in mouse embryonic stem (mES)†¦show more content†¦A gene ontology search revealed that Zfp322a is involved in diverse cellular processes. A microarray approach determined that Zfp322a is able to directly repress and activate a number of the genes it binds. Importantly, this microarray approach confirmed the author’s previous observation that Zfp322a represses the MAPK cascade. Previously, two nodes in the transcriptional network maintaining pluripotency were identified by Chen et al. 2008. Interestingly however, Zfp322a did not preferentially interact with either the c-Myc or Sox2/Oct4 transcription factor clusters. Zfp322a’s 10 C2H2 zinc finger domains bind the major groove of DNA (Lodish et al. 2013), and may give Zpf322a the ability to bind a diverse array of DNA sequences. In support of this hypothesis, no DNA consensus sequence for Zfp322a binding was identified. Zfp322a co-localized equally with all 12 of the transcription factors tested. Coupled with Zfp322a’s dynamic ability to concomitantly repress differentiation, these observations suggest a more profound role for Zpf322a. From the genome-wide analysis of Zfp322a regulation the authors concluded that Zfp322a is an integral component in the pluripotency regulatory network. Zfp322a may contribute to chromatin remodeling associated with maintenance of mES chromatin. Ma et al. 2014 identified a large number of genes enriched with Zfp322a that were involved in chromatin modification,Show MoreRelatedPluripotent Stem Cell Essay1608 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined Factors†  ¬Stem cells are yet undifferentiated cells, with the potential capability to further divide indefinitely, and the ability to give rise to more specialized cell types. Embryonic stem(ES) cells are of especially great importance due to their pluripotency and hence ability to differentiate to cells of all three germ layers. Due to the great replicative powers of these cells, they may be used to treatRead MoreA Research Study On Regenerative Medicine And Transplantation2123 Words   |  9 Pagesmedical research embarking on the evolvement of embryonic stem cells(ESCs)and reprogrammed human somatic cells called induced pleuri potent stem cells(iPSCs) .Human embryonic stem cells were first derived in 1998 by Thomson et al. and induced pleuri potent stem cells(iPSCs) in 2007(Thai Journal of Obstetrics and GynaecologyApril 2013) The innate proficiency of the human embryonic stem cells to differentiate into multiple cell lineages i.e pluripotency and worthy of self renewal score them as invaluable