METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development

Abstract Background 7-Methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the most conserved modifications in nucleosides within tRNAs and rRNAs. It plays essential roles in the regulation of mRNA export, splicing, and translation. Recent studies highlighted the importance of METTL1-mediated m7G tRNA methylome in the s...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yujie Deng, Zhongyang Zhou, Weidong Ji, Shuibin Lin, Min Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-07-01
Series:Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-020-01814-4
_version_ 1819209492992098304
author Yujie Deng
Zhongyang Zhou
Weidong Ji
Shuibin Lin
Min Wang
author_facet Yujie Deng
Zhongyang Zhou
Weidong Ji
Shuibin Lin
Min Wang
author_sort Yujie Deng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background 7-Methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the most conserved modifications in nucleosides within tRNAs and rRNAs. It plays essential roles in the regulation of mRNA export, splicing, and translation. Recent studies highlighted the importance of METTL1-mediated m7G tRNA methylome in the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) through its ability to regulate mRNA translation. However, the exact mechanisms by which METTL1 regulates pluripotency and differentiation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of METTL1 in regulating hiPSC self-renewal and differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Methods By establishing METTL1 knockdown (KD) hiPSCs, gene expression profiling was performed by RNA sequencing followed by pathway analyses. Anti-m7G northwestern assay was used to identify m7G modifications in tRNAs and mRNAs. Polysome profiling was used to assess the translation efficiency of the major pluripotent transcription factors. Moreover, the in vitro and in vivo differentiation capacities of METTL1-KD hiPSCs were assessed in embryoid body (EB) formation and teratoma formation assays. Results METTL1 silencing resulted in alterations in the global m7G profile in hiPSCs and reduced the translational efficiency of stem cell marker genes. METTL1-KD hiPSCs exhibited reduced pluripotency with slower cell cycling. Moreover, METTL1 silencing accelerates hiPSC differentiation into EBs and promotes the expression of mesoderm-related genes. Similarly, METTL1 knockdown enhances teratoma formation and mesoderm differentiation in vivo by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis in nude mice. Conclusion Our findings provided novel insight into the critical role of METTL1-mediated m7G modification in the regulation of hiPSC pluripotency and differentiation, as well as its potential roles in vascular development and the treatment of vascular diseases.
first_indexed 2024-12-23T05:56:09Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5922a652bece4a6991a485907fb4a928
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1757-6512
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-23T05:56:09Z
publishDate 2020-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Stem Cell Research & Therapy
spelling doaj.art-5922a652bece4a6991a485907fb4a9282022-12-21T17:57:49ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122020-07-0111111510.1186/s13287-020-01814-4METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular developmentYujie Deng0Zhongyang Zhou1Weidong Ji2Shuibin Lin3Min Wang4Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityCenter for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityCenter for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityCenter for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityCenter for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Background 7-Methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the most conserved modifications in nucleosides within tRNAs and rRNAs. It plays essential roles in the regulation of mRNA export, splicing, and translation. Recent studies highlighted the importance of METTL1-mediated m7G tRNA methylome in the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) through its ability to regulate mRNA translation. However, the exact mechanisms by which METTL1 regulates pluripotency and differentiation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of METTL1 in regulating hiPSC self-renewal and differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Methods By establishing METTL1 knockdown (KD) hiPSCs, gene expression profiling was performed by RNA sequencing followed by pathway analyses. Anti-m7G northwestern assay was used to identify m7G modifications in tRNAs and mRNAs. Polysome profiling was used to assess the translation efficiency of the major pluripotent transcription factors. Moreover, the in vitro and in vivo differentiation capacities of METTL1-KD hiPSCs were assessed in embryoid body (EB) formation and teratoma formation assays. Results METTL1 silencing resulted in alterations in the global m7G profile in hiPSCs and reduced the translational efficiency of stem cell marker genes. METTL1-KD hiPSCs exhibited reduced pluripotency with slower cell cycling. Moreover, METTL1 silencing accelerates hiPSC differentiation into EBs and promotes the expression of mesoderm-related genes. Similarly, METTL1 knockdown enhances teratoma formation and mesoderm differentiation in vivo by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis in nude mice. Conclusion Our findings provided novel insight into the critical role of METTL1-mediated m7G modification in the regulation of hiPSC pluripotency and differentiation, as well as its potential roles in vascular development and the treatment of vascular diseases.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-020-01814-4N7-methylguanosine (m7G)Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)PluripotencyDifferentiationMesodermVasculogenesis
spellingShingle Yujie Deng
Zhongyang Zhou
Weidong Ji
Shuibin Lin
Min Wang
METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
N7-methylguanosine (m7G)
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)
Pluripotency
Differentiation
Mesoderm
Vasculogenesis
title METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
title_full METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
title_fullStr METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
title_full_unstemmed METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
title_short METTL1-mediated m7G methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
title_sort mettl1 mediated m7g methylation maintains pluripotency in human stem cells and limits mesoderm differentiation and vascular development
topic N7-methylguanosine (m7G)
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)
Pluripotency
Differentiation
Mesoderm
Vasculogenesis
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13287-020-01814-4
work_keys_str_mv AT yujiedeng mettl1mediatedm7gmethylationmaintainspluripotencyinhumanstemcellsandlimitsmesodermdifferentiationandvasculardevelopment
AT zhongyangzhou mettl1mediatedm7gmethylationmaintainspluripotencyinhumanstemcellsandlimitsmesodermdifferentiationandvasculardevelopment
AT weidongji mettl1mediatedm7gmethylationmaintainspluripotencyinhumanstemcellsandlimitsmesodermdifferentiationandvasculardevelopment
AT shuibinlin mettl1mediatedm7gmethylationmaintainspluripotencyinhumanstemcellsandlimitsmesodermdifferentiationandvasculardevelopment
AT minwang mettl1mediatedm7gmethylationmaintainspluripotencyinhumanstemcellsandlimitsmesodermdifferentiationandvasculardevelopment