Transient DUX4 expression in human embryonic stem cells induces blastomere-like expression program that is marked by SLC34A2

Stem Cell Reports. 2022 Jul 12;17(7):1743-1756. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.06.002. Epub 2022 Jun 30.

Abstract

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is critical for embryonic development. However, our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of human EGA is still incomplete. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are an established model for studying developmental processes, but they resemble epiblast and are sub-optimal for modeling EGA. DUX4 regulates human EGA by inducing cleavage-stage-specific genes, while it also induces cell death. We report here that a short-pulsed expression of DUX4 in primed hESCs activates an EGA-like gene expression program in up to 17% of the cells, retaining cell viability. These DUX4-induced cells resembled eight-cell stage blastomeres and were named induced blastomere-like (iBM) cells. The iBM cells showed marked reduction of POU5F1 protein, as previously observed in mouse two-cell-like cells. Finally, the iBM cells were successfully enriched using an antibody against NaPi2b (SLC34A2), which is expressed in human blastomeres. The iBM cells provide an improved model system to study human EGA transcriptome.

Keywords: DUX4; NaPi2b; SLC34A2; blastomere; embryonic genome activation; embryonic stem cells; human embryo; reprogramming.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastomeres* / metabolism
  • Embryonic Development / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, Homeobox
  • Genome, Human
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Human Embryonic Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy
  • Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type IIb / genetics
  • Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type IIb / metabolism

Substances

  • DUX4L1 protein, human
  • Dux4 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • SLC34A2 protein, human
  • Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type IIb