RESUMEN

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and cell fate decisions are driven by a broad array of molecular signals. While transcriptional regulators have been extensively studied in human ESCs (hESCs), the extent to which RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) contribute to human pluripotency remains unclear. Here, we carry out a proteome-wide screen and identify 810 proteins that bind RNA in hESCs. We reveal that RBPs are preferentially expressed in hESCs and dynamically regulated during early stem cell differentiation. Notably, many RBPs are affected by knockdown of OCT4, a master regulator of pluripotency, several dozen of which are directly targeted by this factor. Using cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP-seq), we find that the pluripotency-associated STAT3 and OCT4 transcription factors interact with RNA in hESCs and confirm the binding of STAT3 to the conserved NORAD long-noncoding RNA. Our findings indicate that RBPs have a more widespread role in human pluripotency than previously appreciated.

Asunto(s)

Células Madre Embrionarias Humanas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/metabolismo , Diferenciación Celular/genética , Línea Celular , ADN/metabolismo , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Unión Proteica , Proteoma/metabolismo , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/genética , Factor de Transcripción STAT3/metabolismo