Bend family proteins mark chromatin boundaries and synergistically promote early germ cell differentiation

• DOI: 10.1007/s13238-021-00884-1
• Publication Date: 2021-11-03T10:02:53Z
• Authors: Guang Shi; Yaofu Bai; Xiya Zhang; Junfeng Su; Junjie Pang; Quanyuan He; Pengguihang Zeng; Junjun Ding; Yuanyan Xiong; Jingran Zhang; Jingwen Wang; Dan Liu; Wenbin Ma; Junjiu Huang; Zhou Songyang
• Keywords: Homeobox protein NANOG; Bimolecular fluorescence complementation; Epiblast; KLF4

Abstract Understanding the regulatory networks for germ cell fate specification is necessary to developing strategies improving efficiency of production in vitro . In this study, we developed a coupled screening strategy that took advantage an arrayed bi-molecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) platform protein-protein interaction screens and epiblast-like (EpiLC)-induction assays using reporter mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Investigation candidate partners core human pluripotent factors OCT4, NANOG, KLF4 SOX2 EpiLC differentiation identified novel primordial (PGC)-inducing including BEN-domain (BEND/Bend) family members. Through RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq analyses, showed Bend5 worked together with Bend4 helped mark chromatin boundaries promote induction Our findings suggest BEND/Bend proteins represent new transcriptional modulators boundary participate gene expression regulation during early germline development.