Glutamine Metabolism Regulates the Pluripotency Transcription Factor OCT4

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.05.089
• Publication Date: 2016-06-25T11:37:47Z
• Authors: Glenn Marsboom; Guo-Fang Zhang; Nicole Pohl-Avila; Yanmin Zhang; Yang Yuan; Hojin Kang; Bo Hao; Henri Brunengraber; Asrar B. Malik; Jalees Rehman
• Keywords: Transcription

The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of pluripotency by cellular metabolism in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are not fully understood. We found that high levels glutamine essential to prevent degradation OCT4, a key transcription factor regulating hESC pluripotency. Glutamine withdrawal depletes endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH), which results oxidation OCT4 cysteine residues required for its DNA binding and enhanced degradation. emergence OCT4(lo) cell population following did result greater propensity death. Instead, during vascular differentiation hESCs generated with angiogenic capacity, thus indicating modulating enhances functional maturation cells. These findings demonstrate can serve as metabolic-redox sensor metabolic cues act concert growth signaling orchestrate differentiation.