RYBP is important for cardiac progenitor cell development and sarcomere formation.

We have previously established that epigenetic regulator RING1 and YY1 binding protein (RYBP) is required for the contractility of embryonic stem (ES) cell derived cardiomyocytes (CMCs), suggesting its essential role in contractility. In order to investigate the underlying molecular events of this phenotype, we compared the transcriptomic profile of the wild type and Rybp null mutant ES cells and CMCs differentiated from these cell lines. We identified genes related to ion homeostasis, cell adhesion and sarcomeric organization affected in the Rybp null mutant CMCs, by using hierarchical gene clustering and Gene Ontology analysis. We have also demonstrated that the amount of RYBP is drastically reduced in the terminally differentiated wild type CMCs whilst it is broadly expressed in the early phase of differentiation when progenitors form. We also describe that RYBP is important for the proper expression of key cardiac transcription factors including Mesp1, Shh and Mef2c. These findings identify Rybp as a gene important for both early cardiac gene transcription and consequent sarcomere formation necessary for contractility. Since impairment of sarcomeric function and contractility plays a central role in reduced cardiac pump function leading to heart failures in human, current results might be relevant to the pathophysiology of cardiomyopathies.