PCGF6 regulates stem cell pluripotency as a transcription activator via super-enhancer dependent chromatin interactions

• Main Authors: Xiaona Huang, Chao Wei, Fenjie Li, Lumeng Jia, Pengguihang Zeng, Jiahe Li, Jin Tan, Tuanfeng Sun, Shaoshuai Jiang, Jia Wang, Xiuxiao Tang, Qingquan Zhao, Bin Liu, Limin Rong, Cheng Li, Junjun Ding
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2019-04-01
• Series: Protein & Cell
• Subjects: PCGF6; Polycomb group; super-enhancer; 3D chromatin; pluripotency
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13238-019-0629-9
• ISSN: 1674-800X; 1674-8018

ABSTRACT Polycomb group (PcG) ring finger protein 6 (PCGF6), though known as a member of the transcription-repressing complexes, PcG, also has activation function in regulating pluripotency gene expression. However, the mechanism underlying the activation function of PCGF6 is poorly understood. Here, we found that PCGF6 co-localizes to gene activation regions along with pluripotency factors such as OCT4. In addition, PCGF6 was recruited to a subset of the super-enhancer (SE) regions upstream of cell cycle-associated genes by OCT4, and increased their expression. By combining with promoter capture Hi-C data, we found that PCGF6 activates cell cycle genes by regulating SE-promoter interactions via 3D chromatin. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism of PcG protein in regulating pluripotency, and provide a research basis for the therapeutic application of pluripotent stem cells.