NCoR/SMRT co-repressors cooperate with c-MYC to create an epigenetic barrier to somatic cell reprogramming

Nat Cell Biol. 2018 Apr;20(4):400-412. doi: 10.1038/s41556-018-0047-x. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Abstract

Somatic cell reprogramming by exogenous factors requires cooperation with transcriptional co-activators and co-repressors to effectively remodel the epigenetic environment. How this interplay is regulated remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that NCoR/SMRT co-repressors bind to pluripotency loci to create a barrier to reprogramming with the four Yamanaka factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC), and consequently, suppressing NCoR/SMRT significantly enhances reprogramming efficiency and kinetics. The core epigenetic subunit of the NCoR/SMRT complex, histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), contributes to the effects of NCoR/SMRT by inducing histone deacetylation at pluripotency loci. Among the Yamanaka factors, recruitment of NCoR/SMRT-HDAC3 to genomic loci is mostly facilitated by c-MYC. Hence, we describe how c-MYC is beneficial for the early phase of reprogramming but deleterious later. Overall, we uncover a role for NCoR/SMRT co-repressors in reprogramming and propose a dual function for c-MYC in this process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Cellular Reprogramming*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Histone Deacetylases / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 1 / genetics
  • Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 1 / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2 / genetics
  • Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2 / metabolism*
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Histones
  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Klf4 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Ncor1 protein, mouse
  • Ncor2 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 1
  • Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • histone deacetylase 3