Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF

Abstract Background The POGZ gene has been found frequently mutated in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). However, little is known about its roles in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural development and diseases. Methods...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyun Sun, Linxi Cheng, Yuhua Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-06-01
Series:Molecular Autism
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00502-9
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author Xiaoyun Sun
Linxi Cheng
Yuhua Sun
author_facet Xiaoyun Sun
Linxi Cheng
Yuhua Sun
author_sort Xiaoyun Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The POGZ gene has been found frequently mutated in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). However, little is known about its roles in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural development and diseases. Methods We generated Pogz−/− ESCs and directed ESC differentiation toward a neural fate. We performed biochemistry, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and bioinformatics analyses to understand the role of POGZ. Results We show that POGZ is required for the maintenance of ESC identity and the up-regulation of neural genes during ESC differentiation toward a neural fate. Genome-wide binding analysis shows that POGZ is primarily localized to gene promoter and enhancer regions. POGZ functions as both a transcriptional activator and repressor, and its loss leads to deregulation of differentiation genes, including neural genes. POGZ physically associates with the SWI-SNF (esBAF) chromatin remodeler complex, and together they modulate enhancer activities via epigenetic modifications such as chromatin remodeling and histone modification. During ESC neural induction, POGZ-mediated recruitment of esBAF/BRG1 and H3K27ac are important for proper expression of neural progenitor genes. Limitations The genotype and allele relevant to human neurodevelopmental disorders is heterozygous loss of function. This work is designed to study the effects of loss of POGZ function on ESCs and during ESC neural induction. Also, this work lacks of in vivo validation using animal models. Conclusions The data suggest that POGZ is both a transcription factor and a genome regulator, and its loss leads to defects in neural induction and neurogenesis.
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spelling doaj.art-e918f593efae475993d3a12c618de0202022-12-22T00:29:03ZengBMCMolecular Autism2040-23922022-06-0113111810.1186/s13229-022-00502-9Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAFXiaoyun Sun0Linxi Cheng1Yuhua Sun2Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Background The POGZ gene has been found frequently mutated in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). However, little is known about its roles in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural development and diseases. Methods We generated Pogz−/− ESCs and directed ESC differentiation toward a neural fate. We performed biochemistry, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and bioinformatics analyses to understand the role of POGZ. Results We show that POGZ is required for the maintenance of ESC identity and the up-regulation of neural genes during ESC differentiation toward a neural fate. Genome-wide binding analysis shows that POGZ is primarily localized to gene promoter and enhancer regions. POGZ functions as both a transcriptional activator and repressor, and its loss leads to deregulation of differentiation genes, including neural genes. POGZ physically associates with the SWI-SNF (esBAF) chromatin remodeler complex, and together they modulate enhancer activities via epigenetic modifications such as chromatin remodeling and histone modification. During ESC neural induction, POGZ-mediated recruitment of esBAF/BRG1 and H3K27ac are important for proper expression of neural progenitor genes. Limitations The genotype and allele relevant to human neurodevelopmental disorders is heterozygous loss of function. This work is designed to study the effects of loss of POGZ function on ESCs and during ESC neural induction. Also, this work lacks of in vivo validation using animal models. Conclusions The data suggest that POGZ is both a transcription factor and a genome regulator, and its loss leads to defects in neural induction and neurogenesis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00502-9
spellingShingle Xiaoyun Sun
Linxi Cheng
Yuhua Sun
Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF
Molecular Autism
title Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF
title_full Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF
title_fullStr Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF
title_full_unstemmed Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF
title_short Autism-associated protein POGZ controls ESCs and ESC neural induction by association with esBAF
title_sort autism associated protein pogz controls escs and esc neural induction by association with esbaf
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00502-9
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AT yuhuasun autismassociatedproteinpogzcontrolsescsandescneuralinductionbyassociationwithesbaf